Former Napoli sporting director, Pierpaolo Marino, has suggested that Serie A clubs may struggle to meet the €75 million release clause of Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen.
Speaking during an interview with RAI 2, Marino emphasized that only clubs outside Italy are realistically positioned to meet Napoli’s financial demand for the Nigerian forward.
Marino also raised questions about Galatasaray’s reported interest in Osimhen, hinting that the Turkish club might be acting as a middleman in a broader plan involving a top Italian club.
He said, “The clause in my opinion is right for Osimhen’s international value. He is one of the few, 10 in the world, who can shift the balance of a team from non-winning to winning.”
While acknowledging the high wages Turkish clubs often offer, Marino expressed skepticism over Galatasaray’s willingness to pay such a hefty transfer fee.
“My doubt is: Turkish teams have always incentivized players with pharaonic wages, but they have never paid that much for the player’s registration cards. Now it is said that Galatasaray could pay the clause to Napoli for Osimhen.”
Marino theorized that the Turkish side could be a stepping stone for the striker’s eventual return to Italy, possibly circumventing the current clause limitations within the league.
“And my doubt is: if the player were to go there, is it possible that the operation is aimed at bypassing the termination clause for Italy and bringing him here in a year at the price of the clause valid today for abroad?”
He concluded with a subtle suggestion that one of Serie A’s powerhouses could be orchestrating the move from behind the scenes.
“I think my doubt is quite well-founded. I would be curious to see where he will go in a year. Am I saying that there is a company behind Galatasaray? Yes, an Italian one, in my opinion. It could also be fantasy, but since Juventus and Milan are interested, I think it is such an intelligent strategy…”
