Key Victor Osimhen decision keeping Nigeria star from Real Madrid, Barcelona

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is arguably the best forward playing outside Europe’s top five leagues.

However, his salary could stand in the way of a move to one of the continent’s biggest clubs.

Former Fenerbahçe star Ümit Özat believes Real Madrid, Barcelona and all six of England’s leading clubs would sign the Galatasaray striker if he agreed to earn €10 million a year.

The former Cologne assistant coach rates Osimhen highly but believes his current wages could make a transfer difficult. He also considers the 27-year-old the best centre-forward in Turkish football history.

Real Madrid, Barcelona among Victor Osimhen’s potential suitors

Özat made his feelings about the Nigerian striker clear, predicting that Europe’s biggest clubs would move for him if he lowered his salary demands.

“Victor Osimhen, the greatest center forward to have come, be, or will come in Turkish football history,” Özat said, via Krampon Sports.

“It won’t be another century before we see a center forward like this.

“If Osimhen were to say: ‘I’m willing to play for 10 million euros a year,’ would Real take Osimhen today? Real would take him. Barcelona would take him. All six of England’s big six would take him.

“Atletico Madrid or the like would be too small for Osimhen.”

Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona were among the clubs linked with a move for Osimhen in the summer.

Osimhen was also believed to be in the transfer wishlist of several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United.

In the end, the former Lille star stayed put at Galatasaray with no club interested in meeting the Turkish club’s financial demands and the player’s salary demands.

Osimhen’s €21m package complicates potential transfer

Arsenal-linked Osimhen earns a guaranteed net salary of €15 million per season at Galatasaray. His total guaranteed annual package reaches €21 million when his €1 million loyalty bonus and €5 million image-rights payment are included.

Galatasaray are not complaining one bit, though, as the Super Eagles striker continues to deliver on the pitch, where he is the club’s number one performer by some distance.

Hours after the birth of his second daughter, Osimhen took to the field to head home a Gabriel Sara cross in the 12th minute of Galatasaray’s Süper Lig match against Konyaspor.

The goal was his ninth league strike of the season. He played for 60 minutes before being substituted, with Galatasaray eventually sealing a 4-0 win.

Now in his third year in Turkey, Osimhen has broken several club and individual records and is now ten goals away from becoming the highest-scoring foreigner in Galatasaray’s history.

The Super Eagles striker will only be 28 next summer, leaving the door still open for a dream transfer to the Premier League or La Liga.