Victor Osimhen Dismisses Galatasaray Exit Speculation Sparked by Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle’s Comments

Victor Osimhen has publicly distanced himself from transfer speculation that emerged following comments made by Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle, issuing a direct statement to Galatasaray supporters urging them to ignore the reports.

The controversy began when Chelle excluded Osimhen from Nigeria’s squad for upcoming international friendlies against Poland in Warsaw on June 3 and Portugal in Leiria on June 10. In explaining the omission, the French-Malian coach appeared to hint at an imminent departure, telling reporters: “We miss two players because Victor Osimhen maybe he is about to change clubs, so I prefer he stays at home because if he plays and is not at 100 percent is not good.”

The remarks quickly circulated across football media, reinforcing existing reports that Osimhen’s representatives are actively exploring a summer exit from Istanbul. The striker, however, moved swiftly to contain the narrative, confirming he had spoken directly with Chelle to address the situation. “Unfortunately, his words have been taken out of context and blown out of proportion,” Osimhen stated. “He has great respect for Galatasaray… and never intended to create any controversy… I kindly ask everyone to disregard the speculation surrounding this matter.”

Osimhen’s relationship with Galatasaray has been one of the more compelling storylines in European football over recent seasons. The Nigerian forward played a central role in the club’s back-to-back Süper Lig title triumphs, cementing a strong bond with the club’s fanbase in the process. His performances in Turkey came after a difficult final chapter at Napoli, where a breakdown in relations with the club preceded his loan move to Istanbul.

Despite Osimhen’s reassurances, speculation linking him to a return to the upper tier of European club football has not subsided. Barcelona, the reigning LaLiga champions, have emerged as a credible suitor. Questions had previously been raised over whether the Catalan club possessed the financial capacity to fund such a deal, but their recent transfer activity has reframed that debate.

Barcelona have already completed an €80 million signing for English winger Anthony Gordon and submitted a reported €100 million bid for Atlético Madrid forward Julián Álvarez — an offer that was rejected. The scale of that rejected bid indicates the club’s willingness to operate at the top end of the transfer market, a factor likely to keep Osimhen’s name in circulation throughout the summer window.

At 27, Osimhen remains one of the most coveted strikers in world football. His record at Napoli — where he won the Serie A title in the 2022-23 season and finished as one of the division’s leading scorers — established his credentials at the highest level before his move to Turkey. Any potential transfer would likely command a significant fee, with Napoli retaining a sell-on clause as part of the original loan arrangement, according to reports.

The coming weeks are expected to provide greater clarity on Osimhen’s future, with the summer transfer window set to open formal business in the weeks ahead. For now, both the player and Galatasaray’s supporters will hope Chelle’s remarks prove to be nothing more than a poorly worded explanation for a routine squad omission.