Okan Buruk: 'We want Osimhen to end as soon as possible'

Created: July 22, 2025 07:00

Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk stated that the management has been in talks with Napoli for a long time, and that they are very close to finalizing the transfer of Victor Osimhen. Speaking at the Austrian training camp, Buruk said of the striker, who made his mark last season, "Everything is going positively with Osimhen. We're nearing completion. We want it to be finalized as soon as possible. The player's side was already positive, and the talks with Napoli are also very positive. We hope they will be finalized soon." The experienced manager also emphasized that other transfers depend on Osimhen, continuing:

WE NEED TO GET OUT OF PLAYERS

"We have a significant budget. Deciding where and what we can use this budget for is crucial. We've been waiting for that, and once this transfer window is complete, we'll have other plans. We're very clear on the goalkeeper issue; we'll be bringing in a player. We have a very good goalkeeper in Günay. Jankat also performed very well in the friendly matches. We want to add another goalkeeper to our squad and address our shortcomings. We'll be considering other positions, but we'll have to let go of players. We'll be considering transfers, but right now, our priorities are Victor Osimhen and the goalkeeper.

WE WANT TO TRANSFER A STOPPER TOO

Okan Buruk stated that he has no transfer plans for Ajax's Ahmetcan Kaplan, saying, "We have players like Arda and Metehan who will be useful going forward. We have important center-backs. If we sell or loan, we could consider adding center-back reinforcements. Davinson and Abdülkerim have shouldered the team's center-back load for the last two seasons. Nelsson has also made significant contributions. Depending on the performance of the players we have, we would like to add a player who, along with Davinson and Abdülkerim, can contribute significantly to Galatasaray."

THE GIANTS LEFT A GOOD TASTE IN OUR MOUTHS IN THE LEAGUE

Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk emphasized their aim to advance to the next round of the UEFA Champions League, saying: “We were very excited to play in the Champions League two years ago. It left a very good taste in our mouths. We did very well in the matches against Bayern Munich and Manchester United. We are more experienced now. We will have a more defined squad when we start the Champions League. Reaching the next round is our first goal. No matter what, winning the championship in Türkiye is also very important. We will not let that go. We have the squad and the strength to focus on both sides.”

ICARDI RETURNED WELL, WE ARE USING HIM AS A JOKER

Okan Buruk commented on the condition of Mauro Icardi, who is recovering from a long ACL injury: “Icardi has gradually started working together. We've started using him as a wild card in training. He's eager and motivated. His captaincy, his approach to the players, and his positive attitude on the field have a positive impact on our team. The quality of training is important. He clearly demonstrated his quality here. He's doing well. Of course, it takes time to prepare him. We're doing our best with these preparations, but he returned well in the first training sessions. We need to improve physically.”