Gardi: How I Convinced Osimhen To Join Galatasaray From Napoli For €75m

Gardi: How I Convinced Osimhen To Join Galatasaray From Napoli For €75m

Ibrahim Lateef

George Gardi has laid out how he successfully persuaded Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen to join Galatasaray, pointing out that Napoli was short-changed at €75m and that several clubs were willing to offer €10-15m more than the release clause, BSNSports.com.ng has sourced. 

It was nothing short of a shock when the Nigeria international moved to Galatasaray on loan in September 2024, as the Turkish transfer window was the only one still open.

Napoli had attempted to negotiate a sale to Premier League and Saudi Pro League teams, but without any success, leaving them with an unhappy player on their hands.

When the loan period expired in June 2025, Galatasaray clinched a deal to buy Osimhen outright for €75m, with Gardi playing a pivotal role in those negotiations.

In a conversation with Sky Sports Deutschland, Gardi elaborated on his decisive strategies. “At the end of last summer’s market, I reached out to the coach and the club to suggest this player, and they initially dismissed it as a joke,” he stated.

“They couldn’t fathom that Victor Osimhen, one of the world’s top strikers, would join Galatasaray at just 26 years old, nor could they see why Napoli would let him go.” As the transfer deadline approached, Gardi took calculated risks.

“People often cite luck or chance, but this was neither. Players like Icardi, Davinson Sanchez, and Zaniolo have all joined at the end of the market under similar circumstances,” he mentioned.

 “All top players are on my radar. Anything can happen in the final days, and contract details can shift dramatically.”

With Osimhen’s existing contract at Napoli featuring a hefty release clause around €110m, many expected a big sale.

However, with no significant bids materializing, he was stuck. That’s when Gardi stepped in with a solid plan.

“I negotiated to lower Napoli's release clause from over €100m to €75m. I convinced Victor to extend his contract for another year, paving the way for a loan move.”

Gardi faced multiple obstacles, including timing as UEFA lists were closing and contract issues at Napoli.

“Victor was uncertain about leaving, but I pressed hard to get him to come. The anticipation was intense; thousands were waiting in Istanbul, and those two hours felt like an eternity,” he recalled.

Gardi highlighted that Napoli would likely regret their handling of this situation. The €75m release clause now appeared insufficient given Osimhen’s immediate impact.

 “Victor was determined to join Gala from the start, and he held the club in high regard. After a year, when the clause was set at €75m, the market had shifted dramatically. What seemed substantial last summer was now a bargain considering the transactions taking place,” he stated.

 “This striker is one of the best in the world, and acquiring him for €75m was a significant coup for the club.” The negotiation spanned several months, primarily because Osimhen could choose from elite clubs globally. However, despite the interest, he made it clear:

 “I’m only playing for Gala.” His strong resolve greatly strengthened Gardi’s position in negotiations. “They executed an exceptional task to find €75m to pay Napoli within a year. We made history by bringing one of the premier strikers in the world to Galatasaray at the height of his career.”