Galatasaray executive Hatipoğlu makes statement on Osimhen transfer

Galatasaray executive İbrahim Hatipoğlu responded to questions regarding Galatasaray's agenda during a live broadcast on TRTSpor.

Here are the highlights from his remarks:

"We were in Adana, waiting for the Adana Demirspor match. We received a call from an agent, George Gardi. He said, 'There is a player like this, would you consider it?' We were not looking for a center-forward. We had Icardi and Batshuayi. But he mentioned a name that it was impossible to remain indifferent to. Before coming to me, he had also called Coach Okan. I don't know how many head coaches would make such a brave decision, but Coach Okan said, 'If a player like this comes, I will play with two strikers, let's get him if we can.' Before 48 hours had passed—we spoke on Saturday—we brought Osimhen to Istanbul by Monday midnight. The next day, we held a video conference with him. Cenk Ergün was also on our transfer committee. We held a video conference with him along with Cenk Ergün. We held the video conference on the morning of that night, the morning of the Adana Demirspor match. When asked if he would come to Galatasaray, he said he would. The primary motivation for him choosing Galatasaray was the name of Galatasaray itself. Onyekuru is a close friend of his. He had serious information about Galatasaray. There was no process of talking or convincing. He said he would come within 1 minute; what followed was negotiating the terms with his agent, which was easily overcome, and he arrived 48 hours later. He fulfilled every promise he made that day to the letter."

"There has been a debate since we brought Osimhen. On the first day he arrived, they said there was a release clause. He said, 'I will not leave.' There were many offers during the mid-season break. Many clubs wanted to sign him mid-season. I don't know if a club from Turkey wanted him. He didn't even hold meetings with any offers. He closed all doors. He said, 'I am focused on the championship, I will finish the season.' I know very clearly that he did not even evaluate any transfer offers."

WILL OSIMHEN STAY?

"I wish we could answer this question easily. This process is ongoing. Everyone is following it very closely. The process has many facets. There are transfer negotiations and offers from other teams. Galatasaray has an offer. We are working as a team on transfers: Maruf Güneş, Abdullah Kavukcu, and myself. Our head is Dursun Özbek. First, it was myself and Maruf, then dear Abdullah Kavukcu joined us. We are conducting this under the president with a division of labor. Abdullah Kavukcu is managing this process together with George Gardi. It is not easy; one must be patient. The chance of Osimhen staying increases with each passing day. There are significant offers. I don't think Osimhen will make a decision easily. The process may take time. Looking back at last summer, we see that he made a difficult decision. We must understand that. We want to keep him here for all Galatasaray fans. Ultimately, Galatasaray has economic power and stature. Abdullah Kavukcu is working on this transfer with the right figures. It is not a transfer success if you pay whatever money is asked. The figures being mentioned are clear. There is a 75 million euro clause, there are salary offers. We had Osimhen play for 9 million Euros, with all bonuses included. That is a transfer success. This is what we are trying to do. Our colleagues are trying to finalize this transfer while also considering economic strength. The time that passes is not a disadvantage for us, but rather an advantage. I hope it happens with figures that Galatasaray can manage."

"It would not be right to discuss the details. These are dynamic processes. Osimhen was a Galatasaray player. His last team is Galatasaray. This is his home. He has been living here for 1 year. Negotiations are ongoing. Figures are discussed, increased, that is a separate matter. Talk of a revised offer or something like that is not correct. Galatasaray, within its means, will try to make Osimhen happy, while maintaining its sustainable economic structure and limits... There are rules that clubs are obliged to follow, both from the TFF and UEFA. We are working on it."

"We see that Osimhen is happy living in Istanbul. He is a good family man. He was here with them. Many players do not bring their families. Think about the last Başakşehir match. It was a tough match. A fierce struggle took place between Osimhen and the opposing center-backs. He played 41 matches with us. It was the toughest match among those 41, and the one where he was most angry. Think about it: it's your last match, you are on loan, your contract is ending. You fight tooth and nail for the club you are attached to with a sense of belonging. His work ethic is very high. There was never a negative issue. He agreed to come in 1 minute. He never had any problems. All of Galatasaray's players showed character. There wasn't the slightest argument even for 1 day. The only moments when voices were raised were in the locker room at halftime during matches where we were tied or losing. I owe a huge thank you to all our players. They are all players with extraordinary character. They are all extremely committed to the team. They are all extremely good friends. We didn't have the slightest problem on or off the pitch. You know the saying 'college team'? Believe me, there was such a beautiful atmosphere, may it not be jinxed. One of the biggest things that brought success was peace. The chief architect of this is Okan Buruk."

HE SPOKE ABOUT TRANSFER FEE RUMORS

İbrahim Hatipoğlu: "We did not pay a loan fee for Osimhen. We brought the player by paying zero loan fee to Napoli. The figure we pay is below the salary he received there. His August and September salaries had been paid. We paid his salary based on bonuses. He met all the bonuses. We did not pay 1 lira in loan fees. There is a 75 million Euro release clause in Osimhen's contract with Napoli. It is the same for every team."

"WE HAVE NO SECRET SALARIES"

"Galatasaray has a budget and limits. The Osimhen process is taking time because we are sticking to this budget. Our late president Mustafa Cengiz used to have a saying: 'I will write the checks, let those who come pay them.' Galatasaray is not managed like that. No president or management would enter into such an action. You deposit the release fee, it's easy. You bought him and became a hero, that's easy. Galatasaray does not follow such a path. Of course, we take the internal balance into account just as much as the commentators. When we make an agreement, we announce it officially. Galatasaray has a tradition of transparency. We do not see the same tradition, the same transparency in other teams. Whatever agreement we make with which player, we report it to the public via KAP (Public Disclosure Platform). There is an explainable account for every agreement you make. We have no player salaries or transfer fees hidden from anyone. When we announce this, all the players on the team will believe that it is a fair wage."

"No matter how you look at it; Osimhen provides immediate service, you achieve sporting success and revenue. There is a very important financial transformation that Galatasaray has started with Dursun Özbek. Galatasaray's revenues have reached a significant point. Ongoing projects have reached the point of providing cash inflows. Within a few years, when the projects are implemented, it will turn into a structure among the top 20 clubs in Europe that has solved its monetary problems. Rest assured, the Galatasaray Sports Club and President Dursun will not allow any agreement that would damage success or create chaos. Galatasaray's means are the means that will ensure Osimhen stays here."

"Galatasaray has provided the budget to ensure Osimhen stays. However, it should not be perceived as 'let's give the highest possible figures and sign the contract tomorrow'."

News Source: 12punto