Victor Osimhen releases statement on future as Nigeria boss hints at summer transfer

Victor Osimhen has clarified his future after his national team manager suggested the forward was leaving Galatasaray.

The striker, who isn’t playing in Nigeria‘s upcoming friendlies with Poland and Portugal, became a huge talking point when Eric Chelle hinted Osimhen was leaving his club.

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But the former Napoli striker quashed a few Premier League dreams by insisting that Chelle misunderstood.

He also insisted that there was no problem between the Super Eagles head coach and himself.

But Osimhen has no intention of leaving the Turkish Super Lig outfit.

On Instagram, he said: “Unfortunately, his words have been taken out of context and blown out of proportion.

“He has great respect for Galatasaray, follows most of our games, and never intended to create any controversy.

“I appreciate the conversation, the opportunity to always represent my country, and I look forward to continuing to work with him.

“He is a great coach whom I respect a lot, and I kindly ask everyone to disregard the speculation surrounding this matter.”

What did Chelle say?

Osimhen isn’t playing for Nigeria in this international break.

And when asked about why he wasn’t playing, Chelle said: “We will miss two players because Victor Osimhen, he had maybe to change a club, so I prefer that he stays, because if you play and you are not at hundred percent, this is not good.

“And [Ademola] Lookman is very tired, and Atletico has asked us to let him, so we will travel with 18 players.”

It should be remembered that these two matches are purely friendlies for Nigeria.

The Super Eagles didn’t qualify for the World Cup meaning Osimhen and co get the summer off rather than heading to North America.

Osimhen would have been involved had Nigeria made it to the tournament.

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Osimhen’s future

Since moving initially on loan to Turkey in 2024, Osimhen has made goalscoring look easy.

The forward has 59 goals in 74 appearances for Galatasaray, while he has added some trophies to his cabinet as well.

Manchester United and Chelsea are among the teams who have been linked, but Tottenham Hotspur have been told to sign him instead.

talkSPORT’s Sonny Snelling on the last episode of Inside Spurs for the season called for Spurs to make a move.

He said: “I think we need a striker, it’s ideal to fire us up this league.

“A lot of big teams last year got in their striker, Benjamin Sesko, Victor Gyokeres, Joao Pedro and they’re all secured now.

“But there’s one striker’s name who gets touted around every year, and he is at a perfect age of 27. He’s in a league where he’s smashing it up and he should come back to a top-five league, and that’s Victor Osimhen.

“He’s not going to the World Cup because Nigeria didn’t qualify, he should come to the Premier League.

“I think he’s a top, elite striker and if you want Premier League experience, I don’t know who you would attract.”