Victor Osimhen hails 'visionary' Gündoğan as key leader

Galatasaray Forward Victor Osimhen 

Turkish-based forward Victor Osimhen has revealed the previous club he wished to join before choosing Galatasaray as his final destination, while also detailing the breakdown in his relationship with former side Napoli.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Nigerian international disclosed that he was keen on a move to Juventus. However, the transfer failed to materialize due to Napoli’s reluctance to do business with their Serie A rival. "For sure, Juventus are a top club. When Juventus calls you, you listen, and I could have joined Juventus, yes. Juve wanted to sign me, but Napoli president De Laurentiis didn't want to sell me to Juventus," Osimhen stated.

In a separate interview, the striker spoke about his fractured relationship with the Partenopei. Osimhen expressed regret over how his departure was handled, particularly pointing to a controversial TikTok video posted by the club’s official account that mocked him after he missed a penalty. He claimed the video, combined with racist abuse he suffered, pushed him toward the exit.

“After Napoli posted that TikTok video, something definitely broke,” Osimhen told the paper. “Anyone can miss a penalty, anyone can be mocked for it. But Napoli did it only to me—and with certain insinuations. I was the victim of racist abuse and I wanted to leave.”

The 27-year-old clarified that rumors of a fight with former coach Luciano Spalletti were false, praising the manager for his dedication during their Scudetto-winning campaign. However, he criticized the club’s hierarchy for failing to honor a “gentleman’s agreement” that would have allowed him to leave smoothly. “They tried to send me anywhere, treated me badly... I worked hard to progress in my career, and I couldn’t accept that kind of treatment. I’m not a puppet,” he added.

Osimhen now prepares to face Juventus in the Champions League Round of 16 playoff first leg while on loan at Galatasaray, a fixture loaded with personal significance following his revelations.