President of Galatasaray Dursun Özbek has defended the decision of the club to pay the €75m release clause of Victor Osimhen as well as a huge salary to sign him permanently from Napoli.

After a highly successful time on loan last season, Osimhen is the club’s top priority in the summer transfer window after the signing of Leroy Sane on a free transfer from Bayern Munich.

Osimhen’s release clause and his reported salary (€420,000 a week) has been the hottest topic with many wondering how Galatasaray will be able to afford it, and the possible consequence which could see them land in financial difficulties.

Özbek: We didn’t make any moves that would put Galatasaray in financial difficulty

Speaking to Radyospor, Özbek said.

“Everything at Galatasaray is progressing within the bounds of possibility. We have never made, and will never make, any move that would put Galatasaray in financial difficulty. This also applies to the possible transfer of Osimhen.”

Former Turkish League star Serkan Reçber says some Nigerians and North African players are difficult to manage because they always cause problems unlike Victor Osimhen, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Speaking on the desire by Galatasary to sign the Nigerian on a permanent deal from Napoli after a successful loan spell last season, Reçber who played for Fenerbahce and Antalyaspor during his days in the Turkish League explains why Osimhen is different.

North African players and some Nigerian players are difficult to manage and have been known to cause problems,” Reçber told the YouTube channel Sports Digitale (via habersarikirmizi). But Osimhen is not like that. I used to see Osimhen at the mall, and he was always happy, even when we were eating and chatting.”

He referenced a situation that left him impressed with the Nigerian. “After the 3-3 draw at Kasımpaşa, a Kasımpaşa player asked Osimhen for an autograph and went to his dressing room, brought a pen, and signed it.

Ade Emmanuel

Nigeria international forward Victor Osimhen is facing a dilemma on his next career destination with Napoli keen on him joining Saudi Arabia side Al-Hilal as against his wish, which is to continue with Turkish side Galatasary, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Osimhen spent last season on loan to the Turkish side powering them to league and cup glory with 37 goals and six assists in 41 games across all competitions.

Galatasary are keen on having him return on a permanent deal and have already agreed personal terms with him for a record pay, which matches his wage demands but there are finding it difficult to pay the release clause contained in his contract.

The fee of €75m was agreed last summer before his loan move to Galatasary. It was previously pegged at €150m but after a failed attempt to leave the club last summer, it was reviewed down with the Nigerian signing a new deal as part of the agreement.

However the clause is only valid for teams outside Italy, and it expires later today. Upon expiration the deal of the Nigerian which has a year to run will automatically extend by another year to help Napoli maintain their strong bargaining position.

After today Napoli will be the ones to determine what will be paid as his transfer fee, unless both parties reach an agreement on a new release clause which is only possible with a new deal.

Daniel Martins

Nigeria international forward Victor Osimhen is facing a dilemma on his next career destination with Napoli keen on him joining Saudi Arabia side Al-Hilal as against his wish, which is to continue with Turkish side Galatasary, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Osimhen spent last season on loan to the Turkish side powering them to league and cup glory with 37 goals and six assists in 41 games across all competitions.

Galatasary are keen on having him return on a permanent deal and have already agreed personal terms with him for a record pay, which matches his wage demands but there are finding it difficult to pay the release clause contained in his contract.

The fee of €75m was agreed last summer before his loan move to Galatasary. It was previously pegged at €150m but after a failed attempt to leave the club last summer, it was reviewed down with the Nigerian signing a new deal as part of the agreement.

However the clause is only valid for teams outside Italy, and it expires later today. Upon expiration the deal of the Nigerian which has a year to run will automatically extend by another year to help Napoli maintain their strong bargaining position.

Explaining the situation, football agent Matt George said it’s a case of Napoli wanting the best deal in agreement with what both partied signed last summer, hence their decision to push the Nigerian towards Al Hilal, who are willing to pay the full worth of the release clause in one installment unlike the Turks who want to stagger it.

” It’s a business strategy that everybody understands unless you want to be unfair, sentimental and greedy. Al Hilal are offering the full worth of the release clause in one payment. Galatasary want to pay but in four years and with clauses”, George explained.

” Napoli need the money to buy a striker in Darwin Nunez from Liverpool and what Gala are offering can’t do that for them. So they prefer the deal to Saudi Arabia. I will do the same if I were to be in their shoes”, he stated.

Daniel Martins

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is making advancement on the plans to get three former youth international for England play for the senior national team of Nigeria, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Nigeria have been very proactive in its drive to get players born abroad to play for the team especially those who are in top five leagues, and not in the plans of the country of their birth.

Head coach Eric Chelle is also on board with the idea and has drawn up a list of possible targets, and will approach them after the world cup qualifiers games in September at the earliest.

However, a chieftain of the NFF said three players have already said yes to the opportunity to play for the Super Eagles, and will begin the process of their switch of nationality before the start of next season.

” Three names including Tosin Adarabiyio of Chelsea, Tino Anjorin who just joined Torino and Tim Iroegbunam of Everton are interested in the Super Eagles project, and will apply for the switch of nationality next month”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.

” All three of them were established England youth international at various levels and different times. We hope to have them soon when they switch is done, and it will be up to the coach to pick them based on form”, he stated.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle has dropped seven players from the players in the camp of the team preparing for the CHAN tournament, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

These five players have become ineligible to feature for Nigeria at the CHAN tournament. They have all moved out to sign for clubs outside of Nigeria.

Five of the players were ruled out of the tournament after securing deals abroad, meaning they can’t be a part of the tournament meant for players playing in their various domestic leagues.

Below is the list made available by the official communication channel of the senior national team of Nigeria.

– Abubakar Sadiq – Plateau United

– Philip Adejo- Abia warriors

– Saviour Isaac – Rangers

– Papa Daniels Mustapha – Niger Tornadoes

– Waliu Ojetoye – Ikorodu city

Meanwhile Ifeanyi onyebuchi of Rangers is injured and will not report to camp while goalkeeper Ifeanyi Harcourt of Sporting Lagos will be busy with the under 20 team.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

The former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro has been accused of hindering the team’s attack minded players with his negative tactics at the 2023 delayed Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria went all the way to the final of the tournament before losing to the host Cote d’Ivoire 1-2 in the final. A game which they took the lead before conceding two late goals against the same team they defeated during the group stage.

Reflecting on their time at the tournament and the difference with the current coach Eric Chelle, a player in the team said their tactics are like night and day owing to the difference in the way they want their team to play, particularly in attack.

” They are not the same in anyway but it’s very glaring in attack because Peseiro hates it when we go all out to attack unlike Chelle who pushes us to go up the pitch and make it happen”, he explained.

” At the AFCON in the game against South Africa, we saw a chance to kill them off after taking the lead but he kept on limiting us by asking players to retreat even when an attack is on. In the final the moment we took the lead it was all about defending. He literally stopped us from attacking”.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Young Chelsea winger Coby Ebere has signed a fresh two-year deal keeping him at Everton till the summer of June 2027, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Ebere who signed his first professional contract at the club three years ago joined the club at the age of 11 progressing through the various youth ranks up to the U21s.

“I’m buzzing to extend my deal, based on the fact I’ve had a hard 18 months,” Ebere told evertonfc.com.

“It shows the Club has got faith in me – and I know I can repay it.

“I really enjoyed being back on the pitch with the guys [in the second half of the season] and Taity has been really good with me, working in detail and getting me back to where I need to be.

“We’ve got a great group of players in the Under-21s and hopefully we can show that.

“The aim now is to get as many games as possible, and get as close to the first team as I can.”

Meanwhile in an interview last year, the 19 year old confirmed his eligibility for three separate countries at senior level, but he hasn’t been capped at any level by any of the nations.

” I was born in Germany to Nigerian parents and grew up in England. So playing for any of the above countries is an option that I have but to be honest I haven’t thought about any for now. My aim is to make the step up to the main team of Everton”, he said.

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

Portuguese side FC Porto have announced the departure of Nigeria international winger Marcus Abraham to fellow league side Estrela da Amadora on a permanent deal, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

A member of Porto’s B team for the past three years, he made just one appearance for the first team before the decision to allow him leave was taken by the management given his age.

The 25 year old who has two senior caps for Nigeria in 2021 where he played in back to back friendly games against Cameroon has already joined up with his new team for pre season training.

Comfortable in any role up the pitch he scored 19 goals and eight assists in 85 games for the B team of Porto operating majorly as a right winger from where he scored ten of his goals.

His new team finished 15th last season, and will be hoping his addition alongside others give them a good chance to maintain their top flight status next season.

Daniel Martins