Why ‘humble’ Osimhen is thriving at Galatasaray

Victor Osimhen arriving in Istanbul
Getty Images

Victor Osimhen was given a hero’s welcome by Galatasaray fans when he arrived in Istanbul

Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist

Galatasaray assistant manager Ismael Garcia Gomez admits even they were taken by surprise when the opportunity arose to sign one of the world’s most in-demand strikers.

At the end of August, Victor Osimhen was linked with top clubs in the Premier League and La Liga, or a money-spinning move to Saudi Arabia.

But a couple of days into September, the 25-year-old Nigerian was being mobbed at the airport arrivals in Istanbul, having signed on a year’s loan with the Turkish champions.

“We all know his summer was a bit shaky, there were so many rumours, just that he was definitely not staying [at] Napoli,” Garcia Gomez tells BBC Sport. “There were options in Saudi, Chelsea, I don’t know exactly what happened.

“But in [the] last days of [the] market there was an option for us to try. I remember coming from an away game, the head coach Okan Buruk had the first call with him, when we were about to fly back to Istanbul.

“Then in two days everything was done. For the club, for the fans, it was an amazing signing to start the season.”

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Osimhen burst into the worldwide football consciousness when he scored 26 goals in 32 Serie A games as Napoli raced to the title in 2022-23.

But after staying at Napoli for the 2023-24 campaign, things went sour as Osimhen fell out with owner Aurelio de Laurentiis amid a downturn of form for the team, a turnover of managers and some questionable social media output by the club in relation to the Nigerian.

So bad did relations get, Osimhen was not given a squad number for the 2024-25 season as new boss Antonio Conte signed Romelu Lukaku as a direct replacement.

Unsurprisingly Osimhen was linked with almost every major club in Europe, although a new contract signed at Napoli in December 2023 did not make a transfer easy or cheap.

Ultimately, a loan move was easiest for everyone – but by the time the dust settled it was September, and the transfer windows of almost every major European league were closed. But not in Turkey.

‘Galatasaray was an amazing option’

Victor Osimhen in action against BesiktasGetty Images

Osimhen has averaged a goal every 80 minutes in the Super Lig since joining Galatasaray

“Galatasaray was an amazing option for him,” Garcia Gomez says. “The info we had was that he was super motivated to be part of our family, so it was very simple to make the deal.”

The response outside of Turkey was generally shock that Osimhen had joined a Turkish club rather than go to the prestige of England or the cash of Saudi Arabia – but Turkish football journalist Kaan Bayazit says Galatasaray fit Osimhen on several levels.

“The wages being thrown around in the Premier League now make a big difference,” he told BBC Sport. “Nottingham Forest wouldn’t bat an eyelid at his wages.

“But Galatasaray have been breaking the bank in recent years. Also I don’t think Osimhen wanted to settle, he wanted to stay at the very top.

“You either go for ambition, or you go for the really big bag – and he wanted the top level.”

Osimhen has joined one of the biggest clubs in Europe by fanbase and expectation. Galatasaray are 24-time Turkish champions and have won the past two Super Lig titles.

The Galatasaray squad is packed with familiar names including Mauro Icardi, Hakim Ziyech and Davinson Sanchez.

“He has been smart, humble, coming to our club,” Garcia Gomez said. “The main part of squad has been together for two years, winning back-to-back championships.

“But he came in a smart way, trying to be a part of it, not as a typical star. He was not expecting the club will adapt to him, but he has been very humble and hard working.”

The approach has helped Osimhen – after failing to score in his opening two matches, he has netted four times in his last three league games.

How the Turkish champions changed shape to suit new star

Victor Osimhen and Mauro IcardiGetty Images

Osimhen has formed a strike partnership with Icardi as Galatasaray try to fit two star strikers into their team

Part of Osimhen’s success has come from Buruk adjusting his tactics – which, Bayazit says, has not been without teething trouble.

“They have made some adjustments already – they played 3-5-2 against Besiktas for example, after they played 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 in recent seasons,” he says.

“Icardi was injured when Osimhen came in. The expectation when Osimhen came in was that Icardi would be out for a longer time. But then he came back for the Fenerbahce derby, so now they are working around that.”

Osimhen’s arrival being unexpected can be seen in the way players are deployed around him. The 3-5-2 was played against Besiktas despite Galatasaray’s lack of specialist full-backs. Galatasaray won 2-1 – Osimhen scoring the winner – with two goals from set-pieces, having given up the majority of possession and chances.

Other experiments include a 4-4-2 versus Kasimpasa, where Galatasaray led 3-0 at half-time before being pegged back to draw 3-3.

Osimhen scored twice in the first half before being subbed at the break with a muscle strain, and watched from the bench as his new side dropped points for the first time this season.

But with Galatasaray three points clear of second-placed Samsunspor after 10 league games, the results so far indicate Osimhen’s addition has been successful.

“He’s come from a part of Italy in the south which is passionate, which is very close culturally to Turkey,” says Garcia Gomez. “It has not been a big change.

“He was a key part in the Scudetto, now he is coming to a winning club. It is not easy to win Super Lig back to back. He is a winner, that makes it simple and smooth.”

‘If I was an accountant I would say, don’t do it’

Victor Osimhen playing for Galatasaray against Elfsborg in the Europa LeagueGetty Images

Osimhen is yet to score for Galatasaray in the Europa League, although they have earned seven points from three games

The question now is how long Osimhen will stay at Galatasaray and feel that Turkish love.

He has a 130m euro release clause at Napoli, while there are also rumours of a break clause in his loan at Galatasaray which would allow him to move on in January.

He continues to be linked with several major European clubs, including Tottenham, Galatasaray’s next opponents in the Europa League on Thursday. For Osimhen, this could be a chance to place himself in the early Christmas shopping window.

According to Bayazit, it is also a question of finances and squad balance for Galatasaray.

“If I was an accountant I would say, ‘don’t do it’,” he says when asked if Galatasaray will aim to keep the striker beyond his loan.

He suggests Napoli “will want 50m euros bare minimum” as a transfer fee. Galatasaray’s record signing is midfielder Gabriel Sara from Norwich last summer for 18m euros.

Bayazit also highlights the issue of TV rights in Turkish football. In the summer a new deal was struck with Bein Media for $182m a season. Before 2019-20, the Super Lig had a $500m yearly deal, but fluctuations in the Turkish lira saw the contract renegotiated.

“Galatasaray have Mauro Icardi, so they should spend that money on a different position to centre forward,” adds Bayazit. “One reason it was a really surprising move was that they have great strikers but no star wingers.

“Fans were very critical before Osimhen happened as there was no star winger. They are now happy, but as a puzzle piece fitting in, it doesn’t make sense.”

Unsurprisingly, Garcia Gomez kept his cards close to his chest when asked about Osimhen’s future.

“Hopefully this relationship remains,” he said. “But we must be focused on the present.”