Iniesta wants Barca to sign Osimhen as their next striker

Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta is backing Victor Osimhen. He wants the Catalan club to sign the Super Eagles striker after Robert Lewandowski's move to Chicago Fire, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Iniesta thinks that the 2023 African Player of the Year is the right choice to lead Hansi Flick's attack. This is especially true since Atletico Madrid is not ready to let Julian Alvarez go, who is Barcelona's top target.

In an interview with NTV Spor, Iniesta praised the 52-cap Nigerian striker highly.
“Lamine Yamal is a fantastic player, but I would not prefer him playing as a number nine. If Ferran Torres leaves, I would strongly advise Deco to sign a striker. I do not think Atletico Madrid will let Julian Alvarez go.

“I would suggest they sign Victor Osimhen. He is a fantastic goalscorer and one of the best replacements for Robert Lewandowski,” Iniesta said.

Osimhen's reputation is growing after an impressive season with Galatasaray. He helped the Turkish team win the 2025/26 Super Lig title, scoring 15 goals and giving five assists in 22 league games. This was despite missing some matches due to a forearm injury and the Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria came third.

He also became the fastest player to score 50 goals for Galatasaray, doing it in just 59 matches. He scored twice against Antalyaspor to seal the title and netted in a 3-0 derby win over Fenerbahce upon his return from injury.

However, Osimhen's salary demands are a big hurdle. Reports say he is looking for a net salary of about €15m per season, plus bonuses based on performance. This would mean Barcelona needs to pay close to €30m gross each year under Spain's tax system. This makes it hard for him to register under La Liga’s financial rules.

Yet, PUNCH Sports Extra states that Osimhen has hinted he might accept a big pay cut to make the move happen. This was clear in his recent talks with Atletico Madrid, who turned down a €75m offer for him because they believe Alvarez is not for sale.

On the other hand, Galatasaray is not willing to drop their asking price for a player who has scored 35 goals in 52 appearances for Nigeria. The Turkish club is looking for a fee between €70m and €75m.

Barcelona's sporting director Deco still focuses on signing Alvarez, even with Atletico's refusal to negotiate. The club has already boosted their attack by signing Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon, but they lack a recognized number nine. Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic is also being considered as an option.

With Barcelona's financial issues still complicating a deal, Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are now serious contenders to sign Osimhen before the transfer window closes.