Victor Osimhen could benefit from spectacular rift at Real Madrid

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen could find himself on Real Madrid’s radar once again, after former Nigeria captain Sunday Oliseh hinted that the Spanish champions are tracking the Galatasaray forward ahead of a possible summer shake-up.

The 2023 CAF Player of the Year has been dominant in Europe this season, hitting six goals in three Champions League outings and dragging his Turkish club through a difficult campaign with his usual relentlessness.

His form has inevitably reopened conversations about whether he is destined for one of Europe’s most powerful clubs, and Oliseh believes the chatter is far from speculation. The former national team coach said Madrid’s interest is tied closely to the uncertainty surrounding Vinicius Jr, whose relationship with manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly become strained.

Madrid’s long view and Osimhen’s growing profile

Oliseh explained on his Global Football Insights Podcast Youtube channel that Real Madrid may decide to move on from the Brazilian winger if tensions linger. “Xabi Alonso is a top international. Xabi Alonso has proven his worth outside of Spain. He is a new manager that they have brought in,” he said.

“Real Madrid have the luxury now that they can say to Vinicius go because if you go, Mbappé can now go back to his natural position. So, it is not as if we lose you and we lose something.”

The 51-year-old went further, revealing that Osimhen’s name is already circulating behind the scenes as a potential replacement should Madrid choose to reshape their front line. 

“And there’s a lot of talk under the ground about the possibility of Osimhen being a candidate. I am not going to tell you how I got this information, but there’s a lot of talk. Let’s see how this plays out. But when I heard it from a top personality, I was happy for the young man,” he added.

A move to the Santiago Bernabéu would mark a historic moment for Nigeria, with no Nigerian-born player ever featuring for Real Madrid’s senior team. Oladimeji Lawal and Mutiu Adepoju previously played for the club’s B side, but Osimhen would be breaking new ground entirely.