Victor Osimhen has moved to clear up speculation surrounding his future after comments made by Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle suggested the striker could be set for a transfer away from Galatasaray.
The Nigeria international, who will miss the Super Eagles’ upcoming friendly matches against Poland and Portugal, became the subject of intense transfer discussions after Chelle hinted that a possible club move was one of the reasons behind his absence from the squad.
However, Osimhen has now dismissed those suggestions and stressed that his coach’s remarks were misunderstood. The prolific forward also made it clear that there is no disagreement between him and Chelle.
The former Napoli striker reaffirmed his commitment to Galatasaray and insisted that the comments had been taken out of context.
Speaking on Instagram, Victor Osimhen said: “Unfortunately, his words have been taken out of context and blown out of proportion.
“He has great respect for Galatasaray, follows most of our games, and never intended to create any controversy.
“I appreciate the conversation, the opportunity to always represent my country, and I look forward to continuing to work with him.
“He is a great coach whom I respect a lot, and I kindly ask everyone to disregard the speculation surrounding this matter.”
The clarification came after Chelle explained why Osimhen and Ademola Lookman would not be involved in Nigeria’s international fixtures during the current FIFA window.
Speaking after Nigeria’s successful Unity Cup campaign, Chelle said: “We will miss two players because Victor Osimhen, he had maybe to change a club, so I prefer that he stays, because if you play and you are not at hundred percent, this is not good.
“And [Ademola] Lookman is very tired, and Atletico has asked us to let him, so we will travel with 18 players.”
Nigeria will face Poland and Portugal in friendly matches as preparations continue for future competitions. The games carry no competitive significance for the Super Eagles, who failed to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
As a result, Osimhen and several other Nigerian stars will not be heading to North America this summer, despite being expected to play a key role had the team reached the tournament.
Meanwhile, Victor Osimhen continues to enjoy an outstanding spell with Galatasaray. Since joining the Turkish giants on loan in 2024, the striker has established himself as one of Europe’s most prolific forwards.
The 26-year-old has scored an impressive 59 goals in 74 appearances for the club and has also helped add silverware to Galatasaray’s trophy cabinet.
His performances have continued to attract interest from several top European clubs, with Manchester United and Chelsea among those linked with the Nigerian forward. Tottenham Hotspur have also been mentioned as a potential destination, although Osimhen’s latest comments suggest he remains fully focused on his current club.
