Amid the whirlwind of this summer’s transfer drama, a surprising twist emerged: Nigerian star Victor Osimhen chose Turkish giants Galatasaray over Europe’s top clubs.
Chelsea legend Joe Cole recently voiced his disapproval, pointing fingers at Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, for a decision he sees as beneath the striker’s talents, Footballrover reports.
For Joe Cole, it raises the question: why did one of Africa’s top forwards opt for a “small club”?
The Super Eagles star had elite suitors, with Premier League side Chelsea and Saudi club Al-Ahli pushing hard in the closing hours of the transfer window.
French powerhouse PSG was also rumoured as an option, yet none of these moves materialised.
Some say it was Calenda’s handling that prevented Osimhen from reaching Europe’s biggest stages.
Osimhen had already signalled his desire to leave Napoli, with a €130 million release clause waiting to be triggered.
Despite coach Antonio Conte’s attempts to convince him to stay after a publicised TikTok incident impacted his mental well-being, Osimhen remained resolute.
Chelsea even offered Romelu Lukaku as part of a swap deal, but Osimhen ultimately declined, citing tax and image rights issues tied to the move.
Cole: Osimhen deserves Europe’s best, not ‘small club.’
In an interview with TNT Sports, Joe Cole expressed his disappointment, insisting that a striker of Osimhen’s calibre belongs on a bigger European stage.
With many top teams struggling to find a reliable forward, Cole suggested Osimhen could have been the solution for one of Europe’s elite clubs, rather than “settling” for Galatasaray.
“I blame his agent. For a lad that was the best player in Italy, there have been so many big clubs calling out for strikers banging in goals.
“He put himself in a situation where it was untenable for him to stay at Napoli, but they couldn’t get the price they wanted for him.”
“He shouldn’t be at Galatasaray. He should be at a top, top club in Europe, but he’s there. He’s got to score goals, bang them in, and find his way, hopefully to the Premier League.”
“I think he’s a real talent. I don’t know. There must be something missing where the big clubs have looked at him and gone; I’m not sure,” the former Chelsea star said.
However, the Nigerian forward is thriving in Turkey, tallying six goals and four assists in his first eight games.
Despite the “small club” label, Victor Osimhen is proving that talent shines anywhere, making his mark on Galatasaray’s squad and perhaps giving sceptics like Cole something to think about.
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