Rumour Mills: Osimhen reportedly rules out Juventus move, prefers Galatasaray stay

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nigerian international striker Victor Osimhen has reportedly dismissed the prospect of joining Juventus, stating a preference to remain at Turkish champions Galatasaray rather than return to Italy.

Osimhen, 26, is currently on a season-long loan from Napoli and has become a standout figure for Galatasaray, playing a pivotal role in their title-winning campaign.

His performances have sparked widespread transfer speculation ahead of the summer window.

According to Galatasaray insider Yakup Çınar, who spoke on the Yeni Açık YouTube channel, the forward has made his stance clear regarding the interest from Turin.

“Juventus wants me, but Osimhen says, ‘I would rather stay at Galatasaray than go to Juventus,’” Çınar quoted the player, as also reported by Habersarikirmizi.

While Osimhen’s comments reveal his affection for the Istanbul-based club, his long-term future remains uncertain.

Galatasaray are eager to make his stay permanent, but competition is fierce, with substantial offers reportedly coming from clubs in the Saudi Pro League and the English Premier League.

Despite Galatasaray’s interest, Çınar noted that Osimhen has yet to hold formal discussions with the club’s hierarchy about extending his stay. He also revealed that the information came from a source very close to the player.

Osimhen’s rejection of Juventus is significant, especially given the club’s stature in Europe and his previous success in Serie A with Napoli, where he helped them clinch the Scudetto in the 2022/23 season.

As the summer transfer window approaches, Osimhen’s final decision will be one of the most closely watched developments, with Galatasaray hopeful of convincing their talisman to remain in Istanbul amid mounting interest.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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