“We didn’t buy Osimhen to sell him” - Galatasaray Rejects €120m Bid For Nigerian Superstar
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Gala President Dursun Özbek Reaffirms Osimhen Is Not For Sale
The summer transfer window is in full swing, and Victor Osimhen is once again grabbing headlines, with several clubs across Europe enquiring about the availability of signing the Nigerian superstar ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The biggest story over the last week has been around reports that Gala have turned down a massive €120m bid from La Liga giants Atletico Madrid, who are planning for the possibility of losing the likes of Alexander Sørloth and Julián Álvarez this summer.
Osimhen only made his move to Istanbul permanent at the start of the 2025-26 season. However, his excellent form for the Turkish powerhouse has unsurprisingly put him on the radar of some of the biggest clubs from across the continent.
Among the clubs that have been linked with the 27-year-old striker in recent times are Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Atleti, who finished fourth in La Liga and confirmed our football predictions, are believed to have been the first to table a formal bid for his signature.
However, despite the profit that Cimbom stand to gain by selling the Nigerian international for the reported €120m, the club seem determined to retain his services, with president Dursun Özbek reaffirming that they have no plans to part ways with their talisman. He said in an interview:
“We didn’t buy Osimhen to sell him. He’s a player who adds great value to Galatasaray and loves Galatasaray very much. We want him to serve Galatasaray for many years to come. Osimhen is also very happy at Galatasaray.”
When looking at his stats, it’s not difficult to see why Gala are determined to keep hold of Osimhen. The attacker scored 22 goals and provided eight assists in 32 matches across all competitions last season and played a central role in helping the club lift their fourth consecutive Super League title.
Mourinho ‘Eyeing’ Move For Osimhen on Real Madrid Return
Aside from player transfers, one of the biggest moves this summer was the confirmation that José Mourinho will be making his return to Real Madrid after signing a three-year contract that will see him remain at the Santiago Bernabéu until the end of the 2028-29 season.
The Special One’s last stint at the club ran between 2010 and 2013. He has now been tasked with getting Los Blancos back to the level we’ve come to expect from them following two seasons in which the Madrid giants have failed to win a major trophy.
According to reports from Spain, despite having Kylian Mbappé in their ranks, Mourinho has identified Osimhen as a primary transfer target. It is further understood that Los Galacticos are preparing a bid in the region of €150m to pry him away from Galatasaray.
Indeed, while Gala have repeatedly reaffirmed that they have no intention of selling the Nigerian international, a transfer fee of €150m would rank among the most expensive deals in football history. It would also make Osimhen the first Super Eagles player ever to represent Real Madrid.
