Former Super Eagles striker, Brown Ideye, has criticised Italian Serie A club Napoli over an unusual clause reportedly inserted into Victor Osimhen’s transfer deal to Turkish giants, Galatasaray.
The clause allegedly bars Galatasaray from selling the Nigerian forward to any Italian club for the next two years a move Ideye described as “strange” and “unprecedented.”
“In my 20 years of professional football, I have never seen or heard of this type of clause,” Ideye said. “Galatasaray can’t sell a player they bought to any Italian club for two years. What is Napoli scared of?”
The condition, which has sparked heated debates across football circles, is believed to be part of a wider effort by Napoli to prevent Osimhen from returning to Italy, possibly to a direct rival, following a rocky end to his stint in Naples.
“This is more than just a transfer. Time will tell,” Ideye added, suggesting deeper tensions between the Nigerian striker and his former club.
Observers Times gathered that Napoli has yet to publicly explain the reasoning behind the restriction. However, reports from Italy hint at strained relations between Osimhen and Napoli’s top hierarchy, especially after the fallout that marked his final months at the club.
Osimhen’s move to Galatasaray, which is one of the biggest transfer headlines this summer, is also drawing attention for financial reasons. The Nigerian international is set to earn significantly more than his previous salary.
While his loan stint in Turkey last season earned him €12 million, Turkish journalist Razim Ozan Kutahyal has reported that Osimhen’s total package with Galatasaray could rise to €30 million annually, once sponsorship deals and image rights are factored in.
“The Turkish government is also offering tax breaks to clubs like Galatasaray, making these kinds of mega-deals more attractive,” Kutahyal revealed.
The Turkish Super Lig champions are reportedly banking on Osimhen’s star power and marketability to boost both their on-field performance and commercial revenue, especially as they gear up for the UEFA Champions League campaign.
Osimhen, who scored 17 goals across all competitions for Napoli last season despite injury struggles, remains one of Africa’s most valuable football exports.
