Victor Osimhen: ‘Maybe,’ says Borriello on a Juventus move

Former Italy international Marco Borriello has named Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen as a possible answer to Juventus's search for a number nine, saying “Maybe” when asked about the Nigerian.

Borriello was speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, as reported by Legit.ng on Wednesday 28 October. “I want a great number nine. Osimhen? Maybe. He's strong, he knows Serie A and Spalletti,” he said.

“But beyond Osimhen, we need a top-level striker.”

Borriello's words are an opinion, not an approach. Juventus are reportedly looking for a forward, and the same report says they were interested in Osimhen in the summer 2026 window before dropping the pursuit because of the transfer fee and his salary.

Osimhen's Serie A record and the reported clause

At Napoli, the Super Eagles forward scored 76 goals and gave 18 assists in 133 appearances. He helped them win the 2022-23 Serie A title, their first league championship in 33 years, and was named African Footballer of the Year in that period.

Goal has reported that Napoli inserted a clause into his Galatasaray deal: the Turkish champions would owe Napoli a €70m penalty if they sell him to another Serie A club before the summer 2027 transfer window closes.

Osimhen has just scored twice in Galatasaray's derby win over Fenerbahçe, a result that put him 10th on the club's all-time league scoring list.

Analysis: Why “maybe” is not a transfer story yet

Two things are on the record: Juventus were reported to have walked away once on cost, and the reported clause adds a €70m penalty to any Serie A move before the summer 2027 window closes. If both reports hold, a deal would need a fee, wages and a penalty to fit inside one budget.

That is a harder sum than Borriello's one-word answer suggests. For now the useful reading is that Osimhen's Serie A name still carries weight, while his Galatasaray form gives the Istanbul club little reason to listen.

Osimhen's next job is for club and country: Galatasaray's season continues, and the Super Eagles need him fit for the Tanzania games in November, as our Group L breakdown explains.