Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand has blasted reports of a £50 million bid for Victor Osimhen, calling it “absolute peanuts” in today’s transfer market. Ferdinand, speaking on TalkSPORT on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, expressed disbelief that one of the world’s most lethal strikers could leave for such a relatively modest fee.
The ex-England international, known for his outspoken football analysis, reiterated his long-standing belief that Manchester United should have prioritized signing Osimhen to fix their ongoing striker crisis. Instead, it appears the Nigerian star is edging closer to a shocking move to Galatasaray, having reportedly agreed personal terms with the Turkish champions.
“I’m like a broken record at this point,” Ferdinand said. “Anyone who listens to my podcast knows I’ve been screaming Osimhen’s name for months. To hear he might be leaving for £50 million? That’s a joke. In this market, that’s a steal—absolute peanuts for a world-class striker.”
Osimhen, who scored 24 goals across all competitions for Napoli last season, remains one of Europe’s most sought-after forwards. His performances in Serie A and the UEFA Champions League have drawn admiration from top clubs across the continent, yet it seems United’s hesitation may have cost them a game-changing signing.
Ferdinand didn’t hold back in criticizing his former club’s transfer indecision. “You need someone who guarantees goals, leadership, presence. Osimhen has all of that. If Galatasaray gets him for £50m, that’s daylight robbery—and a huge miss for United,” he said.
While United fans continue to call for attacking reinforcements, the club has so far secured Matheus Cunha from Wolves, but questions linger about whether he can fill the void up front. Ferdinand’s comments have reignited the debate about the Red Devils’ recruitment strategy, especially when proven scorers are available.
The potential Osimhen-to-Galatasaray deal could go down as one of the most surprising transfers of the summer—and if it happens at that fee, Ferdinand believes it will expose just how far Manchester United’s ambitions have slipped in the European elite race.
