Barcelona To Battle Madrid For Osimhen

Barcelona are set to battle rivals Real Madrid for the signature of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen this summer.

Both Spanish giants are eyeing the Napoli forward, who has been in sensational form during his loan spell at Galatasaray.

Following a surprise loan move to the Turkish champions last summer, Osimhen has lit up the Turkish League, having scored 29 goals in 33 competitive matches since joining the club.

According to reports from Diario AS, Barcelona see Osimhen as a potential alternative to Robert Lewandowski. While the Catalan club remain committed to the Polish striker leading their attack next season, they are open to market opportunities that could strengthen their squad.

The Nigeria international’s brilliant performances haven’t gone unnoticed across Europe, with several top clubs lining up to secure his services when his loan deal at Galatasaray expires at the end of the season.

Osimhen will return to Napoli after his loan spell, but it seems unlikely he will remain with the Italian side, having completely fallen out with the club’s board. This situation could make him available for a discounted fee as Napoli desperately look to offload him.

However, Barcelona will face stiff competition from Real Madrid, who according to Fichajes, are considering the 26-year-old striker as a potential replacement for Vinicius Junior.

The Brazilian forward could be headed for a blockbuster move to Saudi Arabia, with club president Florentino Perez reportedly willing to sanction what might become the biggest transfer of all time.

The European champions are said to be willing to listen to offers for Vinicius as concerns grow over his compatibility with Kylian Mbappe. The 24-year-old Brazilian could command an astronomical fee of €300m (£255m) from Saudi Pro League suitors.

Should Vinicius depart, Real Madrid have identified Osimhen as their preferred target to lead their attacking line. The Nigerian forward could be available for approximately €72m (£62m), a figure that would be easily covered by the potential Vinicius windfall.

Meanwhile, Napoli president, Aurelien De Laurentiis, has made it clear he wants to block any potential move to Serie A rivals Juventus, who are also interested in the striker.

Speaking on Radio Kiss Kiss via Calciomercato, the Italian club owner emphatically stated, “No! Never at Juventus.”

Premier League clubs Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are also reported to be in pursuit of the striker, although Chelsea are believed to have withdrawn from the race, preferring to pursue other targets such as Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

Osimhen has remained coy about his future plans, saying, “There are always rumours about me, but I live in the moment. I’m enjoying all this now. The fans supported me in an incredible way. Not only me but also my companions and my family. The best decision will be made for everyone, but Galatasaray will forever remain in my heart.”

The Nigerian striker joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan after a proposed move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli collapsed last summer. During his time at Napoli, Osimhen scored 76 goals and provided 12 assists in 133 appearances, helping the Italian side win their first Serie A title in 33 years during the 2022/23 season.

With his proven goal-scoring record in Serie A and now in Turkey, Osimhen continues to attract interest from Europe’s elite clubs, setting the stage for what could be one of the summer’s most intriguing transfer battles between Spanish rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid.