Simeone Wants Osimhen at Atletico Madrid

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen. Photo: Super Eagles

Atletico Madrid's coach Diego Simeone is interested in signing Victor Osimhen. This news comes from Spanish journalist Ruben Uria, as reported by Turkish site Haberler.

Even though Atletico Madrid decided not to sign the Galatasaray striker this summer, Uria's report says some agents have offered the 27-year-old Nigerian to the club. Osimhen is reportedly willing to accept a pay cut to make the move happen.

This new interest comes after Atletico Madrid rejected an initial offer of €75 million for Osimhen. They told intermediaries that he was not in their plans because Julian Alvarez is not on the market and Alexander Sorloth is still with the team. Club board member Miguel Angel Gil Marin prefers to keep Alvarez at the Wanda Metropolitano.

But now, Sorloth is close to joining Fenerbahce. This change has affected Atletico’s decision, especially since Alvarez is still being linked with a move away from the club.

Osimhen's willingness to lower his salary is partly due to his respect for Simeone. He praised the coach after a Champions League match between both teams last season. "I like him, I have always been a fan of their coach. I’ve met him a couple of times. They play aggressively and have an identity," Osimhen said in January.

"The coach has been there for many years, so the players are used to his style of play. That’s why I praise the performance we put in; Atletico is one of the best teams in the world, and getting a result like a draw against them shows you’re on the right track."

Osimhen is under contract with Galatasaray until June 30, 2029. He has also attracted interest from other European clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur. However, they would need to sell either Dominic Solanke or Richarlison to fit Osimhen's expected wages into their budget.

The Nigerian striker’s market value is around €75 million. He has made a huge impact at Galatasaray, scoring 59 goals and providing 16 assists in 74 official matches, totaling 75 contributions to the team.