The transfer saga involving Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has taken a dramatic turn, with Napoli reportedly rejecting a third offer from Turkish club Galatasaray.
Meanwhile, Osimhen’s representatives are accusing the Italian champions of trying to force a move to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal.
Nigerian journalist Buchi Laba, who has been closely following the situation, shared the latest developments in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
According to Laba, Napoli turned down Galatasaray’s third attempt to trigger Osimhen’s €75 million release clause because of the club’s proposed payment structure.
Galatasaray are said to be offering to pay the release clause in installments over several years—an arrangement Napoli are unwilling to accept.
Instead, the Serie A club is insisting on a lump-sum payment that aligns better with their immediate financial needs.
Renowned transfer experts Gianluca Di Marzio and Nicolo Schira also reported that Napoli are demanding bank guarantees from Galatasaray before they would consider approving the transfer.
Laba suggested that Napoli’s stance is motivated by a preference for Al Hilal’s offer, which includes the full €75 million upfront.
“They’re frustrating the deal intentionally and want to push him to Saudi Arabia (Al Hilal),” Laba alleged.
Despite the financial lure of the Saudi proposal, Osimhen is reportedly not interested in that option.
“Victor Osimhen has made it very clear that going to Al Hilal is not possible. He only wants Galatasaray,” Laba added.
The deadlock appears far from over, with Laba further revealing that Osimhen is refusing to return to the club, even though he is still under contract with Napoli until June 2026.
“He also made it very clear to Napoli that he won’t report for pre-season and doesn’t want to play for Napoli anymore,” Laba wrote.
Adding to the tension is the fact that Osimhen’s €75 million release clause is due to expire on Tuesday, July 15. If no deal is reached by then, Napoli will be at liberty to set a new price tag for the striker, potentially prolonging the already complex transfer drama.
