Tag: Victor Osimhen

Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen, has acknowledged that the remaining matches of the season will be tough for his team as Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce continue to be on their trail.

Galatasaray came back from behind to beat Alanyaspor 2-1, with Osimhen netting the decisive goal.

Osimhen admitted that the first half was below par for them but praised the team’s response after the break.

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“First of all, I would like to congratulate the team and thank our fans. Without their support, we wouldn’t have had the energy to secure these three points,” he said.

“We struggled in the first half but managed to improve in the second. We know that every match until the end of the season will be difficult, like a final. Our goal is to maintain our momentum.”

The Nigerian forward has been in outstanding form, registering 23 goals and five assists in 29 appearances including 17 league goals for Galatasaray this season.

Super Eagles ace striker Victor Osimhen  continued in his rich vein of form as he delivered the match winner for Galatasaray  at Alanyanspor in a Turkish Super Lig  game played yesterday.

The header which came  in the 82^nd was Osimhen’s  17^th  league goal for the Istanbul giants and  the lone strike victory  means  Galatasaray are now seven points clear of closest challengers Fenerbache, who though have a game in hand.

Meanwhile, Galatasaray icon and football pundit Tanju Çolak has showered  Osimhen with praise for his drive and determination for success, highlighting the Nigerian’s attitude following a recent match.

Çolak was left with a favourable impression of Osimhen’s demeanour, particularly after Galatasaray’s 3-3 tie with Kasımpaşa, suggesting that the player’s attitude was noteworthy.

 “I saw Victor Osimhen after the Kasımpaşa match, he was almost in tears with sadness. Which football player has this ambition and determination? Tell me,” Çolak remarked as per All Nigeria Soccer

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Osimhen has adjusted well to playing in Turkey despite initially struggling. The striker has now netted 17 goals in 21 Super Lig matches.

According to media reports, Premier League team Arsenal are planning talks with the player’s agent and the 26-year-old is also open to joining Manchester United.

The Super Eagles talisman was strongly targeted by both Chelsea and PSG last year before his surprise loan move from Napoli to Galatasaray. His release clause is €75 million in the next transfer window.

Meanwhile, former Italian football player and coach Roberto Pruzzo has expressed confidence in Osimhen joining Serie A team Juventus next season.

“I know that Juve’s next striker will be Osimhen. A reliable source close to his entourage revealed it to me in Florence. They are sure they will go to Turin next year,” Pruzzo said

Arsenal have stepped up their pursuit of Victor Osimhen ahead of the new season.

According to Caughtoffside, the Premier League club are set to meet with representatives of the 26-year-old striker in respect of a transfer in the summer.

The talks will be on Osimhen’s terms, which include his hefty salary of 12 million Euros-a-year.

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The striker, who has netted 22 goals and made five assists across all competitions on loan at Turkish champions Galatasaray, has maintained he will not take a pay cut when he changes clubs in the summer.

The London club are prepared to meet the release clause of 75 Million Euros set by Napoli for the player.

Manchester United, Newcastle United and Chelsea are the other Premier League clubs interested in the star striker.

Victor Osimhen scored  his 16^th  goal in the Turkish Super Lig for Galatasaray to draw 3-3 with Istanbul rivals Kasimpasa amid claims of an impending deal  between Napoli  and Manchester  for the Super Eagles ace striker 

The 28-year-old  opened scoring from the penalty spot in the 12^th  minute after he was fouled by the Kasimpasa goalkeeper on his way to goal.

He  then got his second goal  in the 71^st  minute when he allowed a long ball by the Galatasaray goalkeeper to beat his marker and he coolly slotted past the onrushing Kasimpasa shot stopper.

Since he arrived Galatasaray on loan from Napoli, Osimhen has been in rich in of form which has made him one  of the most sought-after  strikers  ahead of the summer transfers window.  .

The Partenopei had looked to secure a permanent sale of Osimhen during the summer transfer window, but negotiations collapsed in spectacular fashion on deadline day, which led to the Nigerian signing a new contract extension and heading out on loan to Galatasaray instead.

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Osimhen is currently contracted to Napoli until the summer of 2026, but the club have an option to extend the deal for a further year until 2027 if they are unable to secure a sale this summer.

But Calciomercato.com has reported  that Manchester United are prepared to offer Hojlund as part of a player-plus-cash offer for Osimhen, as the Denmark international is not expected to be part of Ruben Amorim’s plans for next season, particularly if the Red Devils sign a marquee centre-forward in the summer.

Napoli are also reportedly interested in former Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee, but United are more likely to part ways with Hojlund, given that the Dutchman is able to cover multiple positions across the attack.

The  report claimed  that Napoli are carefully monitoring the situation, and adds that Napoli need to make a statement signing or two if they are to convince Antonio Conte to stay on board beyond the summer.

Top transfer agent Fabrizio Romano has yet again confirmed that Napoli loanee to Galatasaray, Victor Osimhen,  is open to discussing a summer transfer to Manchester United despite links to Arsenal and Chelsea.  https://1win.com.pk/aviator/

This week, Osimhen  insisted that he ‘does not know what will happen in the summer’ amid  suggestions  he would be open to signing a permanent deal at Galatasaray, saying he already ‘really loves the club’.

Regular goals from Osimhen has helped Galatasaray open up a six-point lead at the top of the Super Lig table, though the Turkish giants were knocked out of the Europa League last week by Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.

With  20 goals  in 26  matches  across  all competitions  in the on-going campaign with Galatasaray, the Nigeria International remains one of  the  biggest transfer targets   following  persistent links to  the English Premier League.

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But Romano maintained that the 26-year-old  will listen  most probably to offers from the Red Devils.

“He’s open to hearing from Man United, as well as more clubs for sure,” Romano said as per Football Transfers. “But again, it’s not something being decided now in February with Man United as it will depend on the budget.

 “For Osimhen, respecting his current salary conditions at Napoli is a key point.”

Osimhen joined Galatasaray last summer on loan for the season from Napoli until June 2025.

It is a dry loan with Galatasaray simply covering his salary from September until June at a cost of €10 million. He has a release clause in his Napoli contract worth €75 million.

According to Romano, there is also interest from the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and PSG, but Man Utd appear to have prioritised him as their favoured option in attack.

Osimhen has no future at Napoli after falling out with the club last year.

The attacker had spent the entire summer searching for a new club and sacked his agent when this wasn’t forthcoming. He  had been frozen out of the squad at Napoli, with no chance of being reintegrated under new manager Antonio Conte.

Instead of spending the entire first half of the season training on his own, Osimhen opted to join Galatasaray on loan.

Osimhen saw his relationship with Napoli sour last season, following the TikTok scandal in which the club’s own social media team mocked his penalty miss with Bologna.

Osimhen had a largely difficult season on the pitch, while Napoli endured a disastrous defence of the Scudetto they won in the 2022-23 season as they finished 10^th  in Serie A.

The Nigerian had been a key player in the Scudetto campaign, scoring 26 league goals in 32 games.

Victor Osimhen will not win the UEFA Europa League with Galatasaray this season as he promised after the Turkish champions were knocked out of the competition by Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.

Gala  yesterday forced AZ to a 2-2 draw in Istanbul to exit the Europa League 6-3 on aggregate.

Osimhen, who was suspended for the first leg in Holland which his team lost 4-1, promised that they will overturn that loss to reach the Round of 16.

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The Super Eagles striker, who scored five goals in the Europa League, failed to score yesterday  and was subbed off late in the encounter.

Galatasaray will now shift their attention to ‘The Intercontinental  Derby’ against bitter city rivals Fenerbahce Monday.

Gala are six points clear of their rivals at the top of the table after 23 games.

Galatasaray captain Fernando Muslera is confident  that the return of Super Eagles’ striker Victor Osimhen will help swing victory in their favour in the return leg of the UEFA Europa League playoff tie at home.

The Red and Yellow secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Rizespor on Monday, with Osimhen netting both goals to seal the win.

Speaking after the match, Muslera  who doubles as the team’s and goalkeeper, praised the Nigerian forward’s relentless work ethic and determination.

“He puts in a lot of effort and fights every minute. He never gives up. We are all grateful to play with a player like him,” Muslera said of Osimhen.

‘We knew that by supporting him, we could achieve something special. Today, he scored the goals that brought us victory. The second half gave us better control, and we were able to capitalize with a well-taken set piece.”

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Meanwhile, Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has also shared the same optimism ahead of tomorrow’s  UEFA Europa League second leg playoff clash against AZ Alkmaar despite trailing 4-1 from the first leg in Holland last week.

Osimhen’s absence was deeply felt in the first leg, as AZ Alkmaar secured a commanding 4-1 win courtesy of goals from Sven Mijnans, Troy Parrott, Jordy Clasie, and David Møller Wolfe.

However, the Nigerian International made a successful return to the starting lineup in Galatasaray’s Turkish Super Lig game against Rizespor, scoring two impressive goals to help his team claim a crucial 2-1 win.

Speaking after the win over Rizespor, the 26-year-old striker commended his team’s efforts and emphasized the significance of the victory in boosting their morale ahead of the Europa League clash.

This was really an intense game, they gave us a tough time but we deserved the win and big congratulations to the whole team,” Victor Osimhen said.

“I say thank you to our fans. I think this win really gives us the morale we need to carry on for the Europa league clash which is a very important game also and I think we are really ready to go,” he added.

Mikel Obi begs Chelsea to sign Nigerian ace

Super Eagles attacker Victor Osimhen was at the double  as Galatasaray defeated Rizespor 2-1 to open a seven point gap at the top of the Turkish Super Lig side after 23 games.

Osimhen was face to face with his Nigerian compatriot, Ibrahim Olawoyin who featured in his 20^th  league game of the season for the home team.

After a goalless first half, Osimhen found the back of the net for Galatasaray’s opener barely two minutes after the restart but it took Rizespor just seven minutes to equalise through Ali Sowe.

When it was going as if the game would end in a 1-1 draw Osimhen netted again four minutes from full time to hand the three points to Galatasaray to the disappointment of Olawoyin and his Rizespor teammates.

The game extended Galatasaray’s point haul to 63 from 23 games. They have seven points buffer over second placed Fenerbahce whom they host next Monday in a local derby.

Osimhen  who has played 24 games in all competitions with 18 goals and five assists, will be relied upon to help Galatasaray stage a comeback at home on Thursday when they face AZ Alkmaar with a 4-1 deficit to overcome. Osimhen was suspended in the first leg which was played in Holland.

Meanwhile, former Nigeria international  John Mikel Obi has implored his former employers, Chelsea,  to break the bank for Osimhen.

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In the latest episode of his Obi One Podcast, Mikel Obi dismissed the idea that Alvaro Morata’s struggles at Chelsea might deter Osimhen from joining the club, expressing confidence that the Nigerian striker is smart enough to recognize what’s best for his career.

“It didn’t go well for Alvaro Morata at the club but I’m sure Victor is a smart guy, he knows what’s good for him,” Mikel said. “Chelsea has always been his club, he has come out openly and said that it was his childhood dream growing up to play for Chelsea.”

 “His idol is Didier Drogba, the way he played, they played in the same position. He has made it pretty clear that this is the club he wants to come to. Unfortunately we didn’t get it done in the summer but you never know. I don’t think the door is shut completely, you never know, let’s wait and see in the summer,” he added.

While Chelsea’s striker search will continue in the summer, Osimhen’s immediate focus is on helping Galatasaray win the Turkish league and staging a remarkable comeback in the Europa League against AZ Alkmaar after missing the first leg through suspension as the Dutch side pummelled Galatasaray 4-1.