Victor Osimhen to Juventus? Secret anti-Italy clause blocking Nigeria star’s Serie A return

Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen suggested this week he would be open to a return to Italy with Juventus a possible destination, Afrik-Foot reports.

However, reports from Italy have uncovered a hidden contract clause that could prevent an easy return to Serie A for the Super Eagles attacker.

Osimhen, Galatasaray’s all-time foreign top goalscorer in the Champions League, has openly shown admiration for Juventus. The Nigerian striker even chose not to celebrate after scoring against the Italian giants in midweek, a gesture that quickly caught attention across Europe.

However, the biggest obstacle is not just his transfer fee, believed to be around €150 million. The real problem lies in an agreement created by Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis when the striker left Italy.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Napoli inserted a strict ‘anti-Italy’ penalty clause into Osimhen’s €75m move to Galatasaray last summer.

The rule is simple but powerful: if Galatasaray sell Osimhen to any Serie A club, they must pay Napoli an additional €70m penalty fee.

The clause will remain active for two years, until September 1, 2027, effectively blocking Italian rivals from signing him during that period.

Victor Osimhen: The only possible escape and another big problem

There is technically one possible way around the restriction.

Juventus could attempt to negotiate directly with Napoli and agree on a separate financial settlement. But even that solution comes with another major difficulty, Osimhen’s salary.

The striker currently earns about €15 million per season, with bonuses pushing his income close to €21m net annually. Without previous tax advantages available in Italy, few Serie A clubs can realistically afford such wages.

Despite these complications, Osimhen has continued to show respect for Juventus and their manager Luciano Spalletti, the coach who helped him reach world-class level during Napoli’s historic title-winning season.

Ahead of a recent European clash in Turin, Osimhen described playing for Juventus as ‘a privilege’ and praised Spalletti’s dedication, saying the coach ‘cared so much that he slept at the training ground.’

The striker also fuelled speculation online after sharing a photo with Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero, calling himself ‘lucky’ to meet one of football’s greatest players.

For now, though, admiration alone is not enough. With 16 goals and five assists in 24 matches this season, Osimhen remains one of Europe’s most wanted forwards. But Napoli’s clever contract design means any Serie A return will have to wait, or come at an enormous cost.