Doğan reveals why Osimhen didn't sign for Trabzonspor last summer

Trabzonspor president Ertuğrul Doğan has recently disclosed the reasons why the Turkish club was unable to secure the services of Victor Osimhen during the 2024 summer transfer window. According to him, while the club was highly interested in the Nigerian striker, financial constraints made the move impossible.

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In the summer of 2024, Victor Osimhen, then still under contract with Napoli, was in high demand despite just finishing a tough season in Italy. The Nigerian international had endured a difficult spell, as he was not part of new coach Antonio Conte's plans, prompting him to seek more playing time elsewhere. Several Turkish clubs, including Trabzonspor and Galatasaray, were approached by the player's representatives. However, Trabzonspor simply could not compete financially with Galatasaray, who came forward with a much higher offer.

"The agents offered Victor Osimhen to everyone in Turkey," explained president Ertuğrul Doğan, according to A Spor. "We were one of the clubs approached and the numbers were clear. We told them that we, Trabzonspor, simply couldn't match those figures. If we offered 20, Galatasaray would have offered 25," he added.

Ultimately, Victor Osimhen joined Galatasaray on loan from Napoli for the 2024-2025 season, with the Turkish club agreeing to pay his full salary, estimated at €6 million. This decision proved to be a masterstroke for the Istanbul side. The 26-year-old striker netted 33 goals and provided 8 assists in 37 appearances across all competitions this season. In the Super Lig, he scored 24 goals in 27 matches, making him the league's top scorer.

Lydiane N'Po |

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Sports journalist specializing in African football, covering football news, exclusive stories and digital content for passionate fans of the game.