Iniesta Urges Barca To Sign Osimhen
Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta has thrown his weight behind Victor Osimhen, urging the Catalan club to make the Super Eagles striker their next leading forward following Robert Lewandowski’s departure to Chicago Fire.
The former Spain international believes the 2023 African Player of the Year is the ideal man to lead Hansi Flick’s attack, particularly with Atletico Madrid showing no willingness to part with Julian Alvarez, who remains Barcelona’s preferred transfer target.
Speaking in an interview with NTV Spor, Iniesta gave a strong endorsement of the 52-cap Nigerian striker.
“Lamine Yamal is a fantastic player, but I would not prefer him playing as a number nine. If Ferran Torres leaves, I would strongly advise Deco to sign a striker. I do not think Atletico Madrid will let Julian Alvarez go.
“I would suggest they sign Victor Osimhen. He is a fantastic goalscorer and one of the best replacements for Robert Lewandowski,” Iniesta said.
Osimhen’s stock has continued to rise following another impressive campaign with Galatasaray, where he helped the Turkish giants win the 2025/26 Super Lig title, scoring 15 goals and providing five assists in 22 league appearances despite missing several matches through a forearm injury and the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, where Nigeria finished third.
He also became the fastest player to reach 50 goals for Galatasaray, achieving the feat in just 59 appearances, with a brace against Antalyaspor sealing the title and a goal in a 3-0 derby win over Fenerbahce marking his return from injury.
Osimhen’s salary demands remain a significant obstacle.
The striker is said to be seeking a net salary of around €15m per season, plus performance-related bonuses, which would cost Barcelona close to €30m gross annually under Spain’s tax system, complicating his registration under La Liga’s financial rules.
However, Osimhen has since signalled a willingness to accept a considerable pay cut in order to facilitate a move, a stance already evident in his recent approach to Atletico Madrid, who turned down a €75m offer for the striker after concluding that Alvarez was not for sale.
Galatasaray, for their part, remain unwilling to lower their valuation of a forward who has scored 35 goals in 52 appearances for Nigeria, with the Turkish champions holding out for a fee of between €70m and €75m.
Barcelona sporting director Deco continues to prioritise a move for Alvarez despite Atletico’s refusal to negotiate.
The club have already strengthened their attack with the signings of Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon but remain without a recognised number nine, with Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic still under consideration as an alternative.
With Barcelona’s financial limitations continuing to complicate a deal, Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have emerged as strong contenders to sign Osimhen before the transfer window closes.
