Galatasaray’s head coach, Okan Buruk, has confirmed that Victor Osimhen’s loan deal from Napoli includes a clause permitting the Nigerian striker to leave the Turkish club during the January transfer window.
However, Buruk emphasised the player’s commitment to staying with the team until the end of the season.
Speaking during an exclusive interview published on Galatasaray’s official website on Sunday, Buruk shed light on the circumstances surrounding the high-profile transfer.
He also revealed that Osimhen, who has been instrumental in Galatasaray’s success this season, had initially expressed his intention to remain at the club for the full campaign, a promise he appears determined to honour.
“Osimhen has the intention of staying here until the end of the season. He also wants to stay; he said the same thing at the beginning,” Buruk stated. He further explained the specifics of the clause in the loan agreement, adding, “There is a clause there, but it doesn’t matter; he said he will stay. There is a clause about transfers in January. This clause has different things. The important thing is the player. The player who decides. That’s why Osimhen says he will stay here. He said the same thing when he came.”
Reflecting on the process that brought the 25-year-old Nigerian international to Istanbul, Buruk shared previously undisclosed insights.
He pointed out that the move initially appeared far-fetched due to earlier discussions with Mauro Icardi, who had been a focal point of the club’s offensive setup.
Buruk explained, “We went to Milan. I go there when I have permission. I lived there for three years. I know the place; it’s food and drink… Gardi is my friend. We didn’t talk about football. We just sat there and had dinner. We met for two days. I went to Inter Milan; I didn’t go to the facility but to the club. We had dinner. There is someone who was in the infrastructure during my time and is now a senior manager. He knows all of our players. All of the players’ names were mentioned. These kinds of meetings are good. Gardi told me there was such and such a thing about Osimhen. It didn’t seem realistic at first.”
The breakthrough came unexpectedly after Galatasaray’s match against Adana Demirspor.
Buruk revealed that the final decision to pursue the deal was made following a video call.
“Then there was our Adana Demirspor match. We had a video call at the airport after the match. We evaluated it with the transfer committee. We took it to the president. We got the president’s approval. Then the transfer took place,” he narrated.
Osimhen’s arrival on the final day of the summer transfer window came after protracted negotiations with Chelsea and Al Ahly collapsed.
Since joining, the prolific striker has made a significant impact, netting eight goals and delivering four assists in nine appearances across all competitions.
His seamless adaptation to life in Istanbul has made him a fan favorite and a key player in Galatasaray’s bid for domestic and European success this season.
Despite the potential mid-season uncertainty due to the January transfer clause, Osimhen’s current form and dedication have solidified his role as an indispensable asset for the reigning Turkish champions.
