Atletico Madrid Rejects €75m Offer for Nigerian Striker Osimhen

Reports indicate that Galatasaray's prolific striker, Victor Osimhen, was recently put forward for a potential transfer to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid in a deal valued at €75 million. However, the La Liga club reportedly declined the opportunity to sign the Nigerian international, citing financial constraints, according to a report by PUNCH Sports Extra.

Spanish YouTube channel, Club Uria, first brought the story to light, revealing that intermediaries presented Osimhen to Atletico. It was also noted that the player himself was prepared to accept a significant pay reduction to facilitate the move. The podcast's description detailed the situation: “According to information obtained by ‘El Club de Uría’, intermediaries offered Victor Osimhen to Atlético de Madrid in a €75m transfer deal. Atlético informed these intermediaries that Osimhen is not currently part of their plans because Julián Álvarez is not for sale and Sørloth remains with the team.”

Ruben Uria, the presenter, elaborated in the video that the offer originated from Osimhen's representatives. He stated, “They contacted the board of Atletico Madrid a few days ago and their proposition was quite advantageous, offering him for €75m, but Atletico believed the figures were low and that Galatasaray might ask for more for the transfer.” Uria further explained Osimhen's commitment, saying, “Osimhen was also willing to considerably reduce his salary until it fits within Atletico’s salary limit.”

Despite the player's flexibility, Atletico ultimately decided against pursuing the talks. This decision was primarily due to the club's stance on Julian Alvarez, who is not expected to leave, with Miguel Ángel Gil Marín reportedly keen on retaining him. Consequently, the club concluded that if Alvarez and Sørloth remain on the squad, there would be no room for Osimhen.

Osimhen currently commands a substantial salary at Galatasaray, earning a net income of €15 million annually, a figure significantly boosted by tax exemptions for foreign residents in Turkey. He is bound by contract in Istanbul until 2029, having made a permanent switch to the club last summer. His readiness to cut his earnings is widely seen as an eagerness to play under the renowned coach, Diego Simeone.

In January, following a Champions League encounter, Osimhen expressed his admiration for Simeone, stating, “I like him, I have always been a fan of their coach. I’ve met him a couple of times. They play aggressively and have an identity. The coach has been there for many years, so the players are used to his style of play. That’s why I praise the performance we put in; Atletico is one of the best teams in the world, and getting a result like a draw against them shows you’re on the right track.”

Osimhen's transfer prospects now appear intertwined with Alvarez's future, as it remains uncertain if Atletico will block Barcelona’s potential bid for the Argentine. Interestingly, Osimhen had also been on Barcelona’s radar as an alternative to Alvarez, but the Catalan club reportedly cooled their interest due to his substantial salary demands.

In other football news, Anderlecht has tabled a €3.5 million offer for Ejuke, while Arsenal suffered a 3-1 defeat to Real Betis in their final pre-season fixture. Newcastle has appointed 38-year-old Jaissle as their new head coach following Howe's departure.