Oliseh confirms Real Madrid interest in Osimhen
Nigeria football legend and former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has stated that Real Madrid are genuinely interested in signing Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen.
Speaking on the Global Football Insight Podcast, Oliseh confirmed the Spanish giants’ interest but declined to reveal the source of his information.
Osimhen has remained one of the most sought after forwards in world football since helping Napoli clinch the Serie A title in the 2022/23 season. Although he was expected to leave that summer, he stayed on and signed a new contract, which later complicated potential transfers.
In 2024, Napoli blocked a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia and negotiations with Chelsea failed to produce an agreement. He eventually joined Galatasaray on loan, which was later extended into a season‑long deal and eventually made permanent.
His form in Turkey has reignited interest from Europe’s elite clubs. Osimhen has scored six goals in three UEFA Champions League matches this season, performances that have further raised his profile.
Oliseh explained that Real Madrid’s pursuit of Osimhen could be linked to their current contract standoff with Vinícius Júnior.
‘Real Madrid have the luxury now that they can say to Vinicius, go, because if you go, Mbappé can now go back to his natural position. So, it is not as if we lose you and we lose something,’ Oliseh said.
He added: ‘There’s a lot of talk under the ground about the possibility of Osimhen being a candidate. I am not going to tell you how I got this information, but there’s a lot of talk. Let’s see how this plays out. But when I heard it from a top personality, I was happy for the young man.’
If the move materialises, Osimhen would slot into the number nine role, allowing Kylian Mbappé to return to his preferred left‑wing position.
However, the deal would come at a significant cost. Galatasaray are expected to demand more than €100 million for the Nigerian forward, while his wages could exceed €20 million per year.
