Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen clarifies position after exit claims emerge

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has moved to end growing speculation surrounding his future at Galatasaray after comments from Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle triggered widespread reports suggesting he could be preparing to leave the Turkish club.

Questions over Osimhen’s future emerged after Chelle explained the forward’s absence from Nigeria’s upcoming FIFA 2026 friendly matches.

During his remarks, the national team coach suggested the player could be close to making a club move, a statement that quickly fuelled transfer rumours and prompted suggestions that the Galatasaray star was nearing a summer departure.

The comments attracted significant attention across the football world, with speculation intensifying over whether the Nigerian international was preparing to leave Istanbul in the coming months.

However, Osimhen has now publicly addressed the situation and sought to clarify the circumstances behind the coach’s remarks. The striker used social media to explain that he had spoken directly with Chelle and insisted the comments had been misunderstood.

According to Osimhen, the coach’s words had been interpreted in a way that did not reflect their intended meaning, leading to unnecessary discussion about his future.

In a statement released on his social media platforms, Osimhen said:

“I just spoke on the phone with national team coach Eric Chelle about his comments regarding me during his recent press conference. Unfortunately, his remarks were taken out of context and blown out of proportion. He has a lot of respect for Galatasaray, he watches most of our matches, and he never intended to create any controversy. He is an excellent coach whom I respect enormously, and I kindly ask everyone to ignore the speculation surrounding this matter.”

The statement represents the first direct response from Osimhen since the rumours surfaced and appears aimed at calming the growing debate over his future.

By publicly backing Chelle and stressing the respect the coach has for Galatasaray, the Nigerian forward sought to distance both himself and the national team manager from the transfer speculation that followed the press conference.

Osimhen’s intervention is likely to ease concerns among Galatasaray supporters, who had seen reports linking the Nigerian striker with a possible move away from the club after Chelle’s comments sparked uncertainty over his plans.

For now, the player has made it clear that the speculation generated by those remarks should not be taken as an indication of an imminent departure.