Galatasaray is reportedly grappling with internal tensions after delays in salary payments to Victor Osimhen and several other first-team players, largely due to the club’s inflated wage bill.
According to Turkish daily Hürriyet, some players have not received their wages for the past two to three months.
The wage issues have coincided with inconsistent on-field performances. After a 5–2 home victory over Juventus last week, Galatasaray suffered a 2–0 defeat at Konyaspor over the weekend, sparking questions about squad selection.
Hürriyet reported that Osimhen, who earns €15 million net per year, has yet to receive his January and February salaries. The striker was rested for the Konyaspor defeat due to a knee issue but is expected to travel to Turin for the UEFA Champions League knockout play-off second leg against Juventus. “Osimhen is said to have been reluctant to take any risks, especially with the return leg against Juventus in mind,” the report noted.
Osimhen is currently the highest-paid player in the Turkish Süper Lig, followed by Fenerbahce goalkeeper Ederson on €11 million and Galatasaray teammate Leroy Sané on €9 million. Other top earners in the league include Fenerbahce’s Milan Škriniar and former Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio on €8 million, and Mauro Icardi on €6 million.
Head coach Okan Buruk has previously highlighted the rising costs of transfer fees and salaries at the club, emphasizing the importance of staying within budget. “Galatasaray’s transfer fees and salaries have been going up since last year. With Osimhen’s transfer fee and salary, you could probably put together a full team,” Buruk said via the club’s official website. “We brought in key players like Singo, Uğurcan, Sané, and İlkay. Every team has a budget, and it’s crucial to follow it closely.”
Despite the reports, club insiders have denied claims of unpaid wages, asserting that Osimhen is content at Galatasaray. “All the news regarding Victor Osimhen — that he’s not getting paid or is unhappy — is completely baseless. Osimhen is happy at Galatasaray; there’s no issue whatsoever,” insider Arda Özkurt stated via X.
