Transfer: Chelle’s Comments Were Twisted – Osimhen

Victor Osimhen has moved quickly to clear the air after remarks from Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle about his absence from upcoming friendlies sparked a wave of transfer speculation.

The Nigerian striker, currently on loan at Galatasaray, says the coach’s words were ripped from their original context and sensationalised by the media.

The controversy began when Chelle, speaking after Nigeria’s Unity Cup title defense in London, explained why Osimhen and Ademola Lookman were left out of the squad for matches against Poland and Portugal.

According to Chelle, the decision was purely practical not punitive.

“For now we have two games, Poland and Portugal, and I have lots of problems because some players have visa issues—players like Samson Tijani and Abdullahi Yusuf,” Chelle told reporters. “But most importantly we miss two players. Victor Osimhen maybe he is about to change club, so I prefer he stays at home. If he plays and is not at 100 percent, it is not good. For Lookman, he is very tired, and Atlético asked us to excuse him. We will travel with 18 players and see what happens after Poland and Portugal.”

Despite the coach’s matter‑of‑fact tone, headlines soon suggested that Osimhen had been deliberately sidelined due to ongoing transfer drama—rumors that have followed the forward ever since his prolific loan spell at Galatasaray caught the attention of top European clubs.

Osimhen, however, was quick to shut down the narrative. In a detailed Instagram post, he revealed that he had spoken directly with Chelle to resolve the misunderstanding.

“I just got off the phone with coach Éric Chelle regarding the comments about me in his recent interview,” Osimhen wrote. “Unfortunately, his words have been taken out of context and blown out of proportion. He has great respect for Galatasaray, follows most of our games, and never intended to create any controversy.”

The 25‑year‑old striker went on to praise Chelle’s leadership and asked fans and pundits alike to ignore the swirling speculation. “I appreciate the conversation, the opportunity to represent my country, and I look forward to continuing to work with him. He is a great coach whom I respect a lot, and I kindly ask everyone to disregard the speculations surrounding this matter. Thank you for your consistent support.”

With Osimhen’s future still a hot topic ahead of the summer transfer window, his public vote of confidence in Chelle appears designed to refocus attention on the pitch—not the rumor mill.

For now, both player and coach insist there is no rift, only a mutual understanding aimed at keeping Nigeria’s star striker fully fit for the battles ahead.