Yamal tells Barcelona: sign ‘red-hot’ Osimhen
Barcelona’s teenage superstar Lamine Yamal has reportedly thrown his weight behind a potential summer move for Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes. The 18-year-old winger is
Barcelona's teenage superstar Lamine Yamal has reportedly thrown his weight behind a potential summer move for Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes.
The 18-year-old winger is said to have personally urged the Catalan club's hierarchy to pursue the Galatasaray forward, whom he believes would transform Barcelona's attacking play next season.
Yamal reportedly told club management that Osimhen's movement and physicality would relieve the defensive burden placed on him, with the Nigerian's ability to stretch backlines constantly creating space for those around him.
The endorsement comes as Barcelona plan for life after Robert Lewandowski, whose contract expires at the end of the season. With Ferran Torres also potentially heading for the exit door, the club are actively scouting striker options ahead of the summer window.
Read Also: FULL LIST: Ballon d’Or winners in FIFA World Cup years
Osimhen, 27, has been one of the most productive forwards in Europe this season, contributing 19 goals and seven assists in 29 appearances across the Turkish Süper Lig and the Champions League for Galatasaray. However, a broken arm sustained against Liverpool has kept him sidelined in recent weeks as he races to recover.
Barcelona's interest in the Nigerian is not new. Earlier this year, former club president Joan Laporta acknowledged the club's financial capacity to sign a marquee striker, while The Athletic reported that Osimhen is among the players admired by the Barcelona hierarchy.
The stumbling block, however, remains the transfer fee. Fichajes reports that Barcelona have earmarked a budget of around €100 million for a striker, but given the intense competition for Osimhen's signature — with Bayern Munich, Juventus and Chelsea also monitoring his situation — the asking price could rise well above that figure.
Yamal's reported backing adds a new dimension to the pursuit. The Spanish winger, who has scored 21 goals and provided 16 assists this season, is widely regarded as the club's most influential player and one whose voice carries significant weight in the dressing room.
Should Barcelona land Osimhen, it would mark a historic moment for Nigerian football. Only two Nigerians — Gbenga Okunowo and Emmanuel Amuneke — have ever represented the senior Barcelona side.
