Galatasaray Deny Owing Osimhen Amid Salary Rumours

Galatasaray have dismissed reports claiming that Victor Osimhen and some of his teammates are owed unpaid salaries.

In recent days, several Turkish media outlets reported that the Nigeria striker had not been paid for two or three months. The rumours gained more attention after Osimhen did not celebrate some of his recent goals.

One moment that raised questions was his calm reaction after scoring against Juventus in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage. Some fans suggested his muted celebration was linked to the alleged salary issues.

Osimhen later explained that he chose not to celebrate out of respect for Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti, his former coach at Napoli. However, the speculation continued despite his clarification.

Galatasaray president Dursun Özbek has now responded firmly to the claims. The 76-year-old businessman insisted that the club has paid all players in full and on time.

He said reports of unpaid wages were false and disrespectful to the professionalism of the players. According to him, Galatasaray have not defaulted on any salary payments and do not owe any player outstanding wages. He added that bonuses and incentives are also paid as agreed.

While the debate continues off the pitch, Galatasaray are enjoying an impressive season.

Under coach Okan Buruk, they currently lead the Turkish Süper Lig by four points ahead of rivals Fenerbahçe. In Europe, they have reached the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 12 years, where they will face Liverpool.

Domestically, they are also preparing for a Turkish Cup fixture against Alanyaspor.

Osimhen has played a major role in the club’s success this season. The Super Eagles forward has scored seven goals in the Champions League and 10 in the league.

However, he is expected to miss the cup game against Alanyaspor as the club manages his fitness ahead of the important league derby against Beşiktaş this weekend.