Transfer: Napoli reject €65m bid from Galatasaray for Victor Osimhen

Italian football giants Napoli have rejected a €65m offer from Galatasaray for Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.

According to Corriere dello Sport, the Turkish club tried to make Osimhen’s loan deal permanent but fell short of his €75m release clause.

The 26-year-old forward, who joined Galatasaray on loan for the season without an option to buy, has a unique compensation clause in his agreement that gives Galatasaray an advantage.

If Osimhen is transferred to another club in January, the Turkish side would receive €6m in compensation, raising his release clause to €81m for other clubs during the winter window.

This special clause means only Galatasaray can sign Osimhen for €75m this month, while other clubs can trigger the same release clause starting in the summer.

Osimhen’s release clause was originally €130m but was reduced when he signed a new contract with Napoli last summer before joining Galatasaray.

Since his loan move, the Nigeria international has been in outstanding form, scoring 16 goals and providing five assists in 20 appearances for the Turkish side.

In December, Osimhen confirmed he would stay at Galatasaray until the end of the season, stating, “I will not leave in January. I am at Galatasaray until the end of the season. If there are talks between Galatasaray and Napoli after that, we will discuss it.”

Osimhen’s stock has soared following an impressive 2022/23 season with Napoli, where he scored 26 goals to win the Serie A Golden Boot and helped the club secure their first league title in over 30 years.