Victor Osimhen was not just watching Galatasaray’s pursuit of Rafael Leão from the sidelines.

According to T24, the Nigeria striker called his close friend and tried to convince him to choose Galatasaray. The call came as the Turkish champions fought Aston Villa for the Portugal winger, with the club offering Leão a reported €12 million net salary per season. Aston Villa’s offer was about €7.5m.

The move has since taken a major step forward. Galatasaray announced on Saturday that it had started official talks with Leão and AC Milan. Leão is expected in Istanbul to complete discussions later in the day.

Osimhen’s message made sense. Galatasaray can offer Champions League football, serious spending power and a central role in an attack that already has one of Europe’s most feared strikers.

Why Osimhen wanted Leão at Galatasaray

Champions League ambitions

Osimhen knows what Galatasaray can offer on Europe’s biggest stage. The club won the Turkish title for a fourth straight season under Okan Buruk and reached the Champions League round of 16 last season before Liverpool ended its run.

The next challenge is already set. Galatasaray qualified for the 2026-27 Champions League league phase, which starts in September. Its opponents include Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Lille and other elite European clubs across the competition.

Adding Leão would give Osimhen another elite player to help Galatasaray attack those teams.

Galatasaray can pay like a European heavyweight

Money was another clear part of the argument. Galatasaray offered Leão €12m net per season. The club also put a €45m bid on the table for Milan, with bonuses potentially taking the package close to €50m. Milan accepted the €45m level.

That spending power is not new. Galatasaray paid Napoli €75m for the Super Eagles star in July 2025 and gave him a four-year deal worth €15m in guaranteed net salary per season, plus bonuses and image-rights payments.

The Nigeria international could therefore tell Leão that Galatasaray is prepared to invest heavily in top players.

Friendship and a dream attack

The most personal reason may have been the simplest. Osimhen and Leão have been close friends since their time in Italy. T24 reported that Osimhen called Leão directly and spoke to him about Galatasaray’s project and life in Istanbul.

There was also a football reason. Leão could play a major attacking role alongside Osimhen, giving Galatasaray pace, power and creativity in the final third. Osimhen would have a dangerous runner who can attack space and carry the ball, while Leão would have a proven No. 9 to finish attacks.

That is the star-studded attack Osimhen wanted to build. Now, with Leão’s transfer talks officially open, the idea is closer to becoming real.