By Stephen Simon
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has moved to calm growing speculation over his future, insisting that comments suggesting he was on the verge of leaving Turkish champions Galatasaray were taken out of context.
The transfer rumours gained momentum after Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle suggested that Osimhen’s absence from Nigeria’s upcoming international friendlies against Poland and Portugal could be linked to a possible club transfer. The remarks triggered widespread speculation across Europe, with several media outlets linking the Nigerian forward with a move to some of the continent’s biggest clubs.
However, Osimhen has now sought to set the record straight, revealing that he personally spoke with Chelle and stressing that the coach’s comments had been misunderstood.
“I just got off the phone with Coach Eric Chelle regarding the comments about me in his recent interview,” the striker said in a statement posted on social media.
According to Osimhen, Chelle has great respect for Galatasaray and never intended to create controversy surrounding his future. He also urged fans and the media to disregard reports suggesting that an imminent transfer was in the works.
The clarification is expected to ease concerns among Galatasaray supporters, many of whom feared the club could lose one of its most influential players after another impressive season.
Despite continued interest from top European clubs, Osimhen maintained that his immediate focus remains on his current club and his career commitments rather than transfer speculation.
The 27-year-old striker has been one of the most sought-after forwards in world football in recent years, attracting attention from clubs in England, Spain, France and Italy due to his pace, strength and prolific goal-scoring record.
His performances for both club and country have cemented his status as one of Nigeria’s biggest sporting exports and a key figure in the Super Eagles setup.
The latest speculation emerged after Chelle explained the omission of some senior players from Nigeria’s squad for the June international window, stating that Osimhen could be dealing with issues relating to his club future. Those comments quickly sparked reports that a major transfer announcement was imminent.
Osimhen’s response, however, appears to have drawn a line under the controversy, at least for now.
Osimhen joined Galatasaray after leaving Italian side SSC Napoli and has since become one of the Turkish club’s most important players. His goal-scoring exploits have helped maintain his reputation as one of Africa’s leading football stars.
Over the past two years, the Nigerian international has repeatedly been linked with moves to several elite European clubs, making him a constant subject of transfer speculation during every transfer window.
While rumours about his future are unlikely to disappear anytime soon, the striker’s latest statement suggests that reports of an imminent departure from Galatasaray may have been greatly exaggerated.
