Osimhen dismisses transfer rumours, clarifies coach Chelle’s comments on future

Nigeria international and Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen has moved to calm growing speculation over his future, urging fans and the public to ignore reports suggesting he is on the verge of leaving the Turkish champions following comments made by Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle.

Transfer rumours surrounding Osimhen intensified after Chelle explained the striker’s absence from Nigeria’s upcoming international friendly matches against Poland and Portugal scheduled for June.

During an interview, the Malian tactician indicated that the 26-year-old requested to be excused from national team duties as he concentrates on a possible club move.

“We miss two players because Victor Osimhen may be about to change clubs,” Chelle was quoted as saying, a remark that quickly sparked widespread speculation regarding the striker’s next destination during the summer transfer window.

The comments fueled fresh discussions among fans and media outlets about the future of the Nigerian star, who enjoyed an impressive campaign with Galatasaray and has been linked with several top European clubs in recent months.

However, Osimhen has now sought to set the record straight, revealing that he personally contacted Chelle to discuss the remarks and clarify the circumstances surrounding the interview.

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In a statement posted on his Instagram Story on Sunday night, the former SSC Napoli striker said the coach’s comments had been misunderstood and taken out of context.

“I just got off the phone with Coach Eric Chelle regarding the comments about me in his recent interview,” Osimhen wrote.

“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.”

The Super Eagles forward further expressed appreciation for the national team coach and reaffirmed his commitment to representing Nigeria whenever called upon.

“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,” he added.

Osimhen’s clarification is expected to ease tensions generated by the interview and shift attention away from transfer speculation, although interest in the prolific striker remains high ahead of the summer transfer window.

The forward remains one of the most sought-after players in European football, but his latest statement suggests that no conclusions should be drawn from Chelle’s comments regarding his future plans.