Victor Osimhen has revealed he came close to joining Juventus before the move was blocked by Aurelio De Laurentiis.
Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Osimhen confirmed that the Turin giants were keen on securing his signature, but negotiations did not materialize due to Napoli’s firm stance.
“I could have joined Juventus, yes. Juve wanted to sign me… but Napoli president De Laurentiis didn’t want to sell me to Juventus.
For sure, Juventus are a top club. When Juventus call you, you listen.”
Before eventually joining Galatasaray, the Nigerian striker attracted strong interest from both Juventus and Chelsea.
While reports indicate that personal terms were agreed between Osimhen and Chelsea, the Premier League side failed to reach a final agreement with Napoli.
Talks between Juventus and Napoli also failed to progress.
Despite missing out on moves to European heavyweights, Osimhen says he has found happiness in Istanbul.
“I found a club and a city that I love, maybe it was a stroke of luck. As soon as I arrived in Istanbul, you understand why everyone who has played for Galatasaray falls in love with the team and the people. I had never experienced anything like this before.”
Osimhen also outlined Galatasaray’s growing ambitions on the European stage, particularly in the UEFA Champions League.
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“We want to grow at the international level. Very high-level players have been signed and we want to do good things in the Champions League. We are already a strong reality in Turkey, but now, as Galatasaray, we want to leave our mark in Europe too.”
