Osimhen could go to Juventus, but Napoli has put a veto on it

The idea of Victor Osimhen donning Juventus’ iconic black-and-white stripes has become an irresistible “what if” scenario for the Bianconeri faithful. Yet, any dreams of the Nigerian striker making a sensational return to Serie A have collided with the harsh realities of finance.

It turns out that Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis engineered a masterstroke when sanctioning Osimhen’s move to Galatasaray, embedding a clever “anti-Italy” clause that effectively bars Italian clubs from swooping in. When the Super Lig side secured the former Lille forward for €75 million last summer, Napoli ensured they would retain control of his future in Italy, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The clause is formidable. Should Galatasaray attempt to sell Osimhen back to any Serie A club, they would face an additional financial penalty payable to Napoli. This restriction remains in force for 24 months, making a return to Italian football impossible before September 1, 2027.

Still, there is a narrow “grey area” that could open a door. A club like Juventus could, in theory, negotiate directly with Napoli to strike a separate financial arrangement, sidestepping the penalty. Yet even if such a path were pursued, Osimhen’s wages loom as another monumental obstacle.

Currently earning €15 million per season, with bonuses potentially pushing his total to €21 million net, no Italian club can match that figure without the tax incentives previously offered by the Growth Decree.

Despite these hurdles, Osimhen has made no secret of his admiration for Juventus and their manager, Luciano Spalletti. Ahead of a recent Champions League tie at the Allianz Stadium, he described playing at Juve as “a privilege,” especially if it meant reuniting with the coach who maximized his potential during Napoli’s historic Scudetto-winning campaign. Speaking of their close bond, he recalled that Spalletti “cared so much that he slept at the training ground,” adding that he feels indebted to the manager.

That respect was on full display when Osimhen refrained from celebrating a goal against Juventus at the stadium—a subtle tribute to a former, and perhaps future, mentor. The 26-year-old also recently ignited social media chatter after posting a photo with Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero, writing that he felt “lucky to have seen one of the best of all time.”