Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has revealed he felt mistreated by the club before sealing his move to Galatasaray, claiming he was treated “like a dog” despite interest from Juventus.
Osimhen confirmed that Juventus, through then sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli, attempted to sign him in 2024 before he completed an initial loan move to Galatasaray, which was later made permanent.
“Yes, but I could have been at two other top Serie A clubs today,” Osimhen said. “[Ex-Juventus director] Giuntoli called me to take me to Juve before negotiations with Galatasaray began. I spoke with a couple of people from the club. They showed interest, but I knew that he [Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis] wouldn’t let me leave. In any case, the interest was definitely there. And when Juventus call, regardless of everything, you sit down and listen.”
Osimhen played a pivotal role in Napoli’s 2022-23 Serie A title triumph under Luciano Spalletti, finishing as the league’s top scorer. However, relations between the striker and the club deteriorated the following season.
In September 2023, Napoli posted a TikTok video mocking Osimhen after he missed a penalty against Bologna, an incident the Nigerian says marked a turning point.
“After Napoli posted that video on TikTok, something broke. Anyone can miss a penalty, and anyone can be mocked for it. Napoli did it only to me, and with certain kinds of insinuations as well. I was the victim of racist insults, and I made my decision. I wanted to leave.”
Osimhen added that no public apology was ever issued, and dismissed rumours about disciplinary issues as “lies.”
“They tried to send me anywhere to play, but they treated me like a dog. Go here, go there, do this, do that. I worked so hard to build my career, and I couldn’t accept that kind of treatment. I’m not a puppet,” he said.
Now in his second season at Galatasaray, Osimhen says he has found renewed happiness in Istanbul.
“I found a club and a city that I love. As soon as you arrive in Istanbul, you understand why anyone who has played here has fallen in love with the team and the people. I had never experienced anything like it.”