Turkish giants Galatasaray S.K. are reportedly dealing with internal tension following claims of delayed salary payments to Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen and several first-team players.
According to Turkish daily Hürriyet, some players have allegedly gone two to three months without receiving wages, amid concerns over the club’s rising wage bill.
The reports surfaced shortly after Galatasaray recorded a 5–2 home victory over Juventus F.C. but then suffered a 2–0 away defeat to Konyaspor, prompting questions about team selection decisions.
Hürriyet claimed that Osimhen, who reportedly earns €15 million net per year, has not received his January and February salaries. The striker missed the loss to Konyaspor due to a knee issue but is expected to travel for the UEFA Champions League knockout play-off second leg against Juventus in Turin. The report suggested he was reluctant to take risks ahead of the crucial return fixture.
Osimhen is currently the highest-paid player in the Süper Lig, earning €15 million net annually. He is followed by Ederson Moraes of Fenerbahçe S.K. on €11 million, while Galatasaray winger Leroy Sané earns €9 million. Other top earners in the league include Milan Škriniar and Marco Asensio on €8 million, as well as Mauro Icardi on €6 million.
Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk recently acknowledged the club’s rising financial commitments, noting that transfer fees and player salaries have increased significantly since last year.
“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. He added that budgets set at the start of the season must be carefully managed despite the arrival of key players such as Singo, Uğurcan, Sané, and İlkay.
However, club insiders have denied claims of unpaid wages. Arda Özkurt, speaking via X, dismissed reports that Osimhen is unhappy or unpaid, describing the allegations as baseless and insisting the striker remains content at the club.
