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Manchester City midfielder,
Ilkay Gündogan has reacted to Victor Osimhen’s surprising move to Turkish club Galatasaray.
Ilkay Gundogan. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
In a twist to the transfer saga, Osimhen will join Galatasaray on loan from Napoli, rather than securing a permanent move elsewhere.
Gündogan, who has Turkish roots, shared his astonishment on Instagram after Fabrizio Romano announced the transfer. Gundogan commented on the post saying:
“Wow…. Crazy 😯🇳🇬🦁🟡🔴”
The excitement surrounding Osimhen’s transfer for Galatasaray fans was palpable, with many fans at the airport waiting up until 3 a.m. to welcome the Nigerian striker.
How It Unfolded
Towards the end if last season, it was clear that Osimhen would depart Napoli.
However, Napoli’s firm stance on the €120+ million release clause deterred many potential suitors throughout the transfer window.
Paris Saint-Germain couldn’t continue with the deal as they were unwilling to meet Napoli’s terms. Chelsea, also interested, struggled to match the valuation due to their extensive summer transfer activity.
They initially proposed a loan deal, with an obligation to buy but Osimhen declined both offers.
In the final days, Chelsea made a revised offer, which Napoli accepted. Yet, Chelsea’s salary package did not match Osimhen’s current earnings, leading to another rejection from the striker.
Saudi Premier League side Al-Ahli then came in. Although Osimhen was initially inclined to stay in Europe, he agreed to terms with Al-Ahli. However, Napoli increased their asking price by €5-10 million at the last moment, causing Al-Ahli to withdraw.
With the European transfer window closed and Osimhen not registered with Napoli’s squad, Galatasaray swooped in with a season-long loan offer, which includes a January break clause.
This clause allows Osimhen to leave Istanbul if a permanent offer meeting Napoli’s demands emerges.
Osimhen is set to be unveiled by Galatasaray on Tuesday.
Victor Osimhen’s arrival in Istanbul. (Photo by Islam Yakut/Anadolu via Getty Images)
