Per the latest reports in the Turkish press, Galatasaray have set an ultimatum for Victor Osimhen to make his mind up on their offer.
The reigning Super Lig champions are infatuated with the striker, and rightly so – it was his goals that propelled them to a domestic double in 2024/25, and in his time at the club he has endeared himself to the fanbase. It is understood that Cim Bom have reached an agreement with parent club Napoli over a transfer fee, and are now waiting for the 26-year-old’s say-so to advance the deal.
However, his noncommittal stance toward Galatasaray’s overtures has begun to grate with the club management. According to vice president Abdullah Kavukcu, while Osimhen is their market priority, “there is also an end to our time.”
Is Victor Osimhen leading Galatasaray on?
In general, Osimhen’s attitude going into what is a crucial summer has been a strange one. There seems little clarity to what he actually wants, and even as it concerns what he seems to not want, there has apparently not been enough finality.
Despite it seeming like he has no interest whatsoever in a move to Saudi Arabia, Al Hilal persist in sending over offers. This suggests that, for all the posturing of those who hold brief for him on social media, the messaging toward the Saudis is not a hard ‘no’ at whatever cost, at least not yet.
In the same vein, his communication with Galatasaray has lacked transparency. While they have made it clear from jump that they would like to acquire him permanently, his unwillingness to be similarly categorical risks undoing all the goodwill he accumulated over the course of the campaign.
🇹🇷🎙️Galatasaray’s vice president, Abdullah Kavukcu on Osimhen:
“He’s keeping us waiting, and our time is running out. We’ve offered him more than what’s being proposed elsewhere in Europe. After the holidays, sit down at the table and let’s make a decision. If this drags on, it… pic.twitter.com/OtiBMZyep2
— Napoli Zone (@TheNapoliZone) June 22, 2025
One of the more intriguing aspects of his loan stay in Istanbul was how quickly and wholly the Galatasaray fans took to him. Osimhen swiftly became akin to royalty where the club’s fans were concerned, and they fought his corner whenever even the slightest hint of controversy appeared.
They are not stupid, however. They know very well that, other things being equal, the Nigeria international is too good to be playing in Turkey. Unless you are a native, no one grows up dreaming of playing in the Super Lig, let alone a player who is legitimately a top five centre-forward in the world. Theirs is not a delusional fanbase.
It is, however, a proud one. And the longer it goes without a concrete response from Osimhen, the more it will feel like he is stringing Galatasaray along, and the less understanding of the situation the fanbase will be.
It may not matter to him much in the grand scheme, especially if he eventually elects to go elsewhere, but it could greatly recontextualise a brilliant campaign, seeing him, for the second time in a row, leave a club where he should be a legend on sour terms.
