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Osimhen : “When Juventus calls, you sit down and listen.”

Published

6 months ago

February 18, 2026

The relationship between Victor Osimhen and SSC Napoli once felt like a perfect love story. During the historic Scudetto season, the Nigerian striker was unstoppable in front of goal, forming a lethal partnership with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Together, they propelled the Neapolitan side to a long-awaited Serie A title, sealing the championship weeks before the end of the campaign.

For the city of Naples, it was more than just a trophy — it was the end of a 30-year wait for league glory. Celebrations filled the streets for days, as a new generation experienced what had once seemed like a distant dream.

From Glory to Fracture

The following season, however, told a very different story. Napoli’s momentum faded, their title defense collapsed as early as January, and tensions began to surface within the squad.

Matters took a decisive turn when the club’s social media department posted a TikTok video mocking Osimhen after he missed a penalty against Bologna FC 1909.

As Osimhen later admitted in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, that moment irreparably damaged his relationship with the club.

“I feel sorry for the fans, especially because I never spoke publicly about what happened. Some even came to my house asking for explanations. We talked, and I asked them to put themselves in my place. After Napoli posted that video on TikTok, something definitely broke.”

From that point forward, the idea of leaving Naples took firm root in his mind. With his departure appearing inevitable, several European heavyweights monitored his situation. Among them was Juventus FC, though Osimhen knew a move within Italy would be complicated.

“Yes,” he admitted, “I could be at one of two other big Serie A clubs today. Before negotiations with Galatasaray began, Cristiano Giuntoli called to bring me to Juve. I spoke with a couple of people at the club and they showed interest, but I knew he (De Laurentiis) would never let me go. Still, when Juventus calls, no matter what, you sit down and listen.”

A New Chapter in Istanbul

Today, Osimhen has found both stability and prominence with Galatasaray SK. Fully adapted to the Turkish Süper Lig, he has quickly established himself as the most decisive player in the competition.

But Galatasaray’s ambitions extend far beyond domestic dominance.

“We’re trying to grow internationally,” Osimhen explained. “We’ve signed other top-level players and we aim to succeed in the Champions League. We are an established force in Turkey, but now we want to leave our mark in Europe.”

At 27 years old, Osimhen delivered an outstanding campaign last season: 39 appearances across all competitions, more than 3,100 minutes on the pitch, 37 goals, and 7 assists.

His numbers confirm what the eye already sees — a striker at the peak of his powers, driven not only by talent but by a renewed sense of purpose.

From the ecstasy of Naples to a fresh beginning in Istanbul, Osimhen’s journey proves that even the most passionate love stories in football can sometimes give way to new destinies.