A board member of Fenerbahçe S.K., Hakan Safi, has revealed he was fully prepared to personally fund a move for Victor Osimhen during the summer of 2025.
At the time, Galatasaray S.K. were closing in on the Nigerian striker, prompting Fenerbahçe to attempt a late move to hijack the deal.
Safi admitted he was ready to remove financial barriers entirely by stepping in with his own resources.”I was going to finalize the Osimhen transfer, I had the money ready, I was prepared to pay. I wasn’t told to go ahead.” he stated per buzzspor.
According to Safi, the failure to sign Osimhen was not due to financial constraints but rather a lack of approval from the club’s leadership, including president Ali Koç.
More Read
He also disclosed a bold transfer plan, which involved purchasing the striker through his own company before handing him over to the club — a structure sometimes used in major deals. However, the proposal never received the necessary backing.
Beyond internal hesitation, Osimhen’s preference also played a decisive role. Despite suggestions that Fenerbahçe were willing to offer more lucrative terms, the forward favoured a move to Galatasaray.
Safi added that if he ever assumes the club presidency, he would prioritise signing elite forwards and ensure finances would not stand in the way of such deals.
While Fenerbahçe stalled, Galatasaray acted swiftly to secure Osimhen in a €75 million deal following a successful loan spell that saw him help the club win the 2024/25 Süper Lig title.
Since completing the move, the Nigerian striker has become central to Galatasaray’s attack, delivering consistent performances that have driven the club’s push towards the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League.
© Bold Sports Media. All rights reserved. If sharing, kindly credit Bold Sports as the source and include a link to the original post. Unauthorised use is prohibited.
