Arsenal managers Andrea Berta and Maurizio Micheli attended Galatasaray’s 3-0 Turkish Super League win over rivals Fenerbahce at RAMS Park on Sunday, fueling transfer speculation that the Gunners could be eyeing a swoop for Viktor Osimhen.
Andrea Berta to feature in Galatasaray vs. Fenerbahce on Sunday
Arsenal’s sporting director Andrea Berta and newly appointed head of recruitment Maurizio Micheli attended Sunday’s Istanbul derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.
It is understood the Italian duo were guests of transfer mediator and agent George Gardi, who was captured on video escorting them through the crowd to their seats at Rams Park.
Officials have refused to reveal the main motive for the trip, but reports in Turkey have inevitably speculated that Arsenal are showing strong interest in a number of Galatasaray’s players ahead of the summer season.
Although unconfirmed at this stage, it is clear that Berta are eyeing a potential big-money move for Nigeria international striker Victor Osimhen, who scored the team’s opening goal in a 3-0 victory over their Turkish Super Lig rivals.
Gardi has helped broker a number of Gala’s transfers as a consultant in recent years and was a key figure in the club’s shocking £65m (€75m) permanent signing of the 27-year-old frontman from Napoli following a highly successful loan spell last summer.
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He also has strong links with Italian football and was involved in the deals that saw Lucas Torreira, Mauro Icardi and former striker Lucas Torreira sign on the dotted line with the Turkish giants.
Sources say Micheli, who started working at Arsenal at the end of 2025 after leaving his job as Napoli’s director of scouting, is Gardi’s colleague.
Back in 2019, Micheli was one of the driving forces behind Napoli’s signing of Macedonian midfielder Ercif Elmas from Fenerbahce, and Gardi also helped them cross the line, and later posed for photos alongside Carlo Ancelotti at the new player’s unveiling.
Gardi was also responsible for negotiating the contract of Dries Mertens, who joined Galatasaray on a free transfer from Napoli in August 2022, and was also responsible for the professional care of Marek Hamsik during his symbolic period at Napoli.
Interestingly, Arsenal manager Micheli also has strong links with Galatasaray’s Osimhen. He was present in Lille, France, when the Nigerian player officially signed for Napoli in 2020, and was one of several key figures behind the deal, which is worth up to £69.30 including bonuses.
Agent and consultant George Gardi brokered the deal that saw Galatasaray sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli last summer.
Of course, Premier League bosses are planning to strengthen their attacking options in the final stages of the season, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a move to Arsenal will be on the table.
A sale could well prove to be essential as the club look to maximize their spending power after a record £263m splurge last summer.
If Berta has his way, sources close to Arsenal have made no secret of the fact that Atletico Madrid striker Julián Álvarez would be a dream target for the Italian, with the player being brought to the Wanda Metropolitano from Manchester City in 2024.
At the time, the Gunners and Liverpool were also interested in signing Alvarez, who they will face in tomorrow’s Champions League semi-final.
Barcelona are currently thought to be in pole position for the Argentine, but there are doubts as to whether the 26-year-old would be willing to return to the Premier League, which he won twice in two seasons with City, alongside the Champions League, FA Cup and Club World Cup.
Atlético also want to extend Alvarez’s contract, meaning there are some notable obstacles that could prevent Arsenal from proceeding with a transfer.
Arsenal have long been fans of Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez (Image: Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
That’s part of why the mystery surrounding Berta and Micheli going to Istanbul feels so topical, but the truth is that signing Osimhen from Galatasaray in the coming months would be incredibly complicated for any club in Europe.
Back in November, mediator Gardi hinted that the player was happy and settled in Istanbul and envisioned Osimhen staying for the foreseeable future.
The explosive centre-forward earns over £13m per season, excluding potential bonuses. That’s a whopping salary that would instantly put him among the Gunners’ top earners.
On top of that, Osimhen is entitled to an annual royalty bonus of £870,000 (€1 million) and his image rights are said to be worth up to £4.3 million (€5 million).
Chelsea’s technical staff and lawyers previously faced major problems when they tried to sign Osimhen from Napoli in August 2024 but were unable to agree terms on a long-term deal.
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