Zenke questions Arsenal, Man United snub of Osimhen before Galatasaray move

Former Flying Eagles star Simon Zenke says he was surprised Arsenal and Manchester United passed on signing Victor Osimhen before the Super Eagles striker joined Galatasaray. Osimhen moved from Napoli to the Turkish champions after links to Chelsea, Arsenal and United came to nothing.

Zenke told Türkiye Gazetesi that Osimhen represented a genuine opportunity for Galatasaray given his €100 million (₦152 billion) market valuation at the time. "I was really surprised that none of the big European clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United, who needed a striker at the time, were after him. I think they regret it now after seeing his performance in Türkiye," Zenke stated.

Since arriving at Rams Park, Osimhen has delivered 68 goals and 19 assists across 83 competitive matches, becoming integral to Galatasaray's attack. The form suggests the Premier League giants missed a proven goalscorer who was available while they searched for striking options.

For Nigerian football followers, Osimhen's trajectory—from Lille to Napoli to Galatasaray dominance—raises questions about how European clubs value African talent. Is the hesitation about league pedigree, or do Nigerian strikers still face unconscious bias in elite transfer markets?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/10/27/turkey-zenke-surprised-at-arsenal-man-united-decision-on-osimhen/