Süleyman Hurma defends Galatasaray’s €75m Investment in Osimhen amid transfer saga

By Oluwadamilola Olaleye

Fatih Karagümrük President Süleyman Hurma has publicly defended Galatasaray’s decision to invest €75 million in Victor Osimhen following his high-profile move from Napoli.

The transfer, which includes a significant sell-on clause, has raised eyebrows, but Hurma insists that the financial commitment is essential for the club’s ambitions.

Osimhen’s permanent move to Galatasaray comes after a standout season with Napoli, during which he played a crucial role in securing the club’s domestic double.

His transfer, finalized after months of negotiations, saw the Turkish giants pay a net sum of €75 million for the Nigerian forward, with Napoli also securing 10% of any future resale profits.

Ahead of his team’s upcoming fixture against Galatasaray, Hurma addressed the investment, emphasizing that it was a necessary step for any club with ambitions of competing at the highest level.

“Why wouldn’t I do it? Absolutely, I would. We’re not in a position to distribute dividends to shareholders. Every penny earned in football must be reinvested into the sport,” Hurma stated in an interview with Sporx.

He also pointed to the broader financial landscape of European football, referencing the financial struggles of major clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona despite their success.

Hurma reiterated that Galatasaray’s goal is not just domestic dominance but also to challenge on the European stage.

“Even the biggest clubs in the world are losing money. They do it because every success they achieve brings them to the next level,” Hurma said.

“Galatasaray won the championship last year, and now they’re looking to compete in the Champions League. Building a stronger squad is essential to achieving that,” he concluded.

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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