In a recent revelation, Sunday Oliseh, a member of the FIFA Technical Committee and renowned Nigerian football legend, shed light on why top European clubs hesitated to pursue Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen.
He attributed this reluctance to the hefty financial commitment associated with acquiring the player, estimating the total cost at around €187 million over four years.
In a video shared across social media platforms, Oliseh meticulously detailed the intricate transfer saga that led to Osimhen joining Turkish champions Galatasaray for a record fee. He emphasized the dichotomy between football as a passion for fans and its business nature for clubs and players alike, stating, “Let’s get one thing very clear: for fans, football is passion and love, but for all the actors involved, it is business.”
While many have fixated on Napoli’s reported €75 million asking price, Oliseh clarified that the overall financial implications of acquiring and retaining Osimhen were significantly more daunting due to additional obligations. He broke down the costs, which included the €75 million transfer fee, a contractual provision entitling Napoli to 10% of any future resale, and Osimhen’s substantial wage demands of €15 million net annually. “The true cost of acquiring and maintaining Osimhen is actually €187 million,” he pointed out, highlighting that the striker’s wages alone would amount to approximately €112 million over the four-year duration of the contract.
“The real issue for clubs attempting to sign Osimhen lies in his wages. At €15 million net, that totals €28 million a year, which, when multiplied by four, brings the total to €112 million,” Oliseh added.
This financial breakdown offers insight into why Premier League powerhouses like Manchester United and Chelsea, despite their interest in the talented 26-year-old, ultimately fell short of meeting Napoli’s overall valuation. Osimhen’s protracted transfer saga captured headlines throughout much of the summer window, with tensions rising between the striker and Napoli as negotiations prolonged.
Notably, Osimhen was absent from Galatasaray’s opening Turkish Super Lig match against Gaziantep, which ended in a 3-0 victory for the Istanbul club. However, he demonstrated his commitment to his new team by sharing a video of himself watching the match on TV, captioning it, “Big mood, we keep going!” as his teammate Eren Elmali celebrated the second goal.
Although Osimhen missed pre-season training due to the uncertainty surrounding his future, he is expected to be ready for Galatasaray’s next match against Fatih Karagumruk at Rams Park. The acquisition of Osimhen marks a historic moment in Turkish football, as Galatasaray has secured the most expensive signing in the league’s history by paying the full €75 million transfer fee upfront, along with his annual €15 million net salary.
