Galatasaray have firmly rejected an approach from Atletico Madrid for striker Víctor Osimhen, with club president Dursun Özbek stating the 27-year-old is not for sale this summer. The rejection closes off one of Atletico’s contingency options as they plan for the 2026/27 season, according to reports from Turkey.
The interest from Atletico stemmed from uncertainty surrounding the future of Julián Álvarez, with several top European clubs monitoring the Argentine forward. The Spanish club quietly began assessing alternative striker options in case pressure to sell Álvarez intensified, but Osimhen will not be one of them.
Özbek emphasized Osimhen’s value to Galatasaray, describing him as a significant investment and highlighting his importance to the team’s success. Since arriving from Napoli, Osimhen has established himself as a key player for the Turkish side, scoring 59 goals in 74 appearances and contributing to two Superliga Turca titles and a Copa de Turquía. Mundo Deportivo reported that Osimhen had expressed some interest in Atletico and their manager during recent Champions League encounters, making an approach from the Madrid club theoretically possible.
This setback for Atletico comes at a time of broader summer planning challenges. The club’s priority remains retaining Álvarez, who is under contract until 2030 and protected by a €500m release clause. Despite this, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Barcelona, and PSG have all been linked with a move for the forward, as reported by ESPN. Atletico have maintained a firm stance, indicating that any interested club must meet the release clause rather than attempt to negotiate a lower fee.
With the Spanish transfer window closing on September 1, Atletico must now identify alternative striker targets if they wish to have a backup plan in place. The club’s next steps will likely depend on the level of interest in Álvarez and whether any club is willing to trigger his substantial release clause. The situation will dictate whether Atletico pursue another forward or rely on their existing squad depth.
