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Topics: Victor Osimhen, Napoli, Galatasaray, Turkey
Jack Kenmare
Victor Osimhen has dropped a major hint over his next preferred move, according to reports in Italy, as he continues to be linked with a big-money transfer.
The 25-year-old striker is enjoying life in Turkey. After joining Galatasaray on a season-long loan from Napoli, Osimhen has scored nine goals in his opening 11 games for Okan Buruk's side.
He is determined to stay in Istanbul for the remainder of his loan, despite being linked with a transfer elsewhere.
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That's according to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, who says Osimhen has no interest in speaking to other clubs at present. "He wants to use this season as an opportunity to let the Premier League clubs decide whether to make an offer to Napoli," Di Marzio told bettingexpert.
Di Marzio goes on to name Paris Saint-Germain as one of the interested clubs alongside an unnamed team from Saudi Arabia.
But a separate report from Italy suggests Osimhen would jump at the chance to join Juventus.
The presence of former Napoli sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli at the Turin-based club is mentioned in a piece by Il Mattino.
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Giuntoli memorably brought Osimhen to Napoli from Ligue 1 side Lille in 2020 for a reported €75 million and now, he is "trying to snatch Osimhen" from his former club.
The report goes on to claim that Juventus can activate a €75 million clause to sign the Nigerian forward at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
Osimhen has certainly showcased his quality in Turkey of late, although Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has recently admitted to having an issue with the way Osimhen conducts himself on the pitch.
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Speaking in an interview with HT Spor, Mourinho said: "Osimhen is a fantastic player. He is a player that if I was in a club with the potential to pay 70 to 75 million, I would buy."
He continued: "He’s a fantastic player [but] of course, he comes in different circumstances but in the end the circumstances don’t matter. What matters is Galatasaray got an absolutely fantastic player."
"I don’t have problems with Victor. In fact, we have a very good relationship," the Portuguese manager added. "But every time I play against him I speak with him because I don’t like the way he behaves, he dives too much.
"The last time we played, Roma against Napoli, we had this conversation. I told him, 'Look, you are one of the two best African players – it’s you and [Mohamed] Salah'.
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"In the past Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, George Weah, you cannot behave like this. He dives too much, that’s my problem with him. But after ten minutes, we are fine. We have a very good relationship.
"For the Turkish league it is fantastic and for Galatasaray it is fantastic too."