Victor Osimhen has moved quickly to put out the fire sparked by his national team coach, taking to social media to firmly deny speculation that he is on the verge of leaving Galatasaray this summer. 

The intervention came after Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, while explaining the striker’s withdrawal from Nigeria’s squad for the upcoming friendlies against Poland and Portugal, suggested that Osimhen “may be about to change clubs.” The remarks set off a wave of transfer speculation, but Osimhen was having none of it.

In a post on Instagram, the 27-year-old stated that he had spoken directly with Chelle and made clear his displeasure at the way the comments had been reported. “I just got off the phone with Coach Eric Chelle regarding the comments about me in his recent interview,” Osimhen wrote, insisting that his coach’s words had been taken out of context. The Super Eagles media team has since moved to clarify Chelle’s original remarks, distancing the national team from the transfer narrative that had quickly gathered pace in the hours following the coach’s press conference.

Osimhen’s pushback is consistent with a position he has maintained throughout a season of relentless transfer rumours. As recently as last month, the former Napoli striker described Istanbul as home, saying he had found a place where both he and his family are comfortable and settled. “God has put me on that path to prepare me for the greatness I’m in right now,” he said. “But I think I’ve found a home here where I am comfortable, as are my family.” Galatasaray president Dursun Özbek has also repeatedly shot down exit talk, insisting the club has no intention of selling a player he described as integral to the club’s present and future. “We are not considering selling Victor Osimhen. Putting a price on a player we don’t intend to sell is like dressing a footballer before he’s even born,” Özbek said.

On the pitch, Osimhen has given Galatasaray little reason to want to part ways with him. He delivered 22 goals and eight assists in 33 appearances across all competitions this season, helping the Turkish giants retain the Süper Lig title and reach the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

 He completed a permanent €75 million move to the club last summer after an impressive loan spell, signing a deal that runs until 2029. Despite persistent links to Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Chelsea, both player and club appear determined to stay the course at least for now.