Atlético Madrid Reject Osimhen as Simeone Backs Álvarez
Atlético Madrid have been offered a proven goalscorer in his prime, a striker willing to cut his wages to play under Diego Simeone. They have still said no.
According to Club Uria, intermediaries put Victor Osimhen on the table for Atlético, proposing a deal worth around €75 million for the 27-year-old Galatasaray forward. On paper, it looked like the kind of move that could ignite a summer window. In reality, it hit a wall almost immediately.
Money, and a No. 9 Already in Place
Atlético’s response was clear: thanks, but no. The refusal was not dressed up. The club simply do not have the financial muscle right now to execute such a heavy transfer, not at that price and not in this window.
There is also a footballing reason. The central striker’s role at the Metropolitano already belongs to Julián Álvarez. The Argentine is not a placeholder or a short-term fix. The hierarchy see him as the present and the future of their attack and are not entertaining offers for him. With Álvarez locked into that position, dropping €75m on another starting No. 9 makes no sense in their current planning.
Trust in Álvarez, combined with a tight cash flow, closes the door on Osimhen.
Osimhen’s Gesture Falls Flat
The rejection comes despite a strong signal from the player himself. Osimhen, who earns a substantial net salary at Galatasaray boosted by Turkey’s tax exemptions for foreign residents, was prepared to take a pay cut to make the move happen. For a striker under contract in Istanbul until 2029, that is no small concession.
It underlined how badly he wanted to work with Simeone. The Nigerian has not hidden his admiration for the Atlético coach. After facing Los Rojiblancos in the Champions League in January, he spoke openly about his respect for the Argentine and his methods:
“I like him, I have always been a fan of their coach. I've met him a couple of times. They play aggressively and have an identity.
“The coach has been there for many years, so the players are used to his style of play. That’s why I praise the performance we put in; Atlético is one of the best teams in the world, and getting a result like a draw against them shows you’re on the right track.”
Those words now sit in a different light. Admiration, wage sacrifice, a top-level goalscorer on the market — and still Atlético stand firm. The project continues to be built around Álvarez, not Osimhen.
A Hot Name Across Europe
Osimhen’s camp are not limiting their calls to Madrid. The striker has been shopped around to several of Europe’s heavyweights this summer. Barcelona, Arsenal, and Tottenham have all been approached by intermediaries sounding out interest and possibilities.
Tottenham have gone beyond polite conversations. Spurs have put forward a concrete bid exceeding €55 million. It is a serious offer by most standards, but it does not touch Galatasaray’s valuation. The Turkish champions are holding out for far closer to that €75m mark mentioned in the Atlético talks.
So the stalemate continues. One of Europe’s most sought-after forwards is clearly available, clearly willing, and clearly expensive.
Atlético, hemmed in by their finances and convinced by Álvarez, have stepped aside. The race for Osimhen moves on without them — and now the question is simple: which club will finally match Galatasaray’s price and the player’s ambition?
