Victor Osimhen with his matchball after scoring a hat-trick against Ajax at the Johan Cruiff Arena in Amsterdam. [Photo Credit/ Victor Osimhen on X]
Former Fenerbahce Assistant manager Önder Özen has heaped praise on Super Eagles striker for one specific feature, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 27-year-old exited Napoli in a very dramatic fashion as the club hierarchy were clearly in the way of his desire for a move abroad.
However, Galatasaray swooped in to secure Osimhen’s services on the transfer deadline day, albeit only on a loan deal.
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The former LOSC Lille striker scored 37 goals and provided seven assists in his debut season, as fortune favoured Galatasaray’s brave gamble.
He scored the most goals in the Turkish Super Lig last season, taking the golden boot, alongside the league title and the league cup.
Osimhen’s brilliant season saw Galatasaray go all out to secure his services permanently. Okan Buruk’s side splashed 75 million euros on the 2023 CAF Player of the Year, a record high for the club and the Turkish Super Lig as a whole.
Önder Özen lauds Victor Osimhen’s defensive efforts
The Nigerian striker scored the only goal in Galatasaray’s 1-0 win over Besiktas in the weekend’s Istanbul derby, and his defensive contribution wowed Ozen, who used to coach Fenerbahce.
“Galatasaray started the match at a moderate pace, with a controlled tempo. Okan Buruk continued without many changes in the game,” the 56-year-old said in quotes revealed by Haber Sari Kirmizi.
“I found Uğurcan Çakır, Jakobs, and Abdülkerim Bardakcı diligent, while Leroy Sane and Osimhen were very decisive.
“Let’s start from Bavaria and come to our region; Osimhen is the biggest centre-forward of this region.
“He contributed both to the offence and to the defence. He also cut off the connections that Beşiktaş had made from the defence to the midfield. He prevented Beşiktaş’s flow,” the former Goztepe coach concluded.
Osimhen will be looking to edge Liverpool tomorrow evening when they welcome Arne Slot’s Reds to the RAMS Park for the second time this season.
Adefolahan Guerreiro
Adefolahan is a multilingual sports journalist and football writer whose work spans outlets like Soccernet Nigeria, Pure Football UK, and Royalsportz.
With a sharp eye for detail and a background in college sports, he tells the African football story with depth, flair, and global perspective.
Fluent in English, Spanish, and German, he brings a cross-cultural voice to his coverage, blending insight with accessibility for readers around the world.
His portfolio includes interviews with top Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, Sikiru Alimi, Sodiq Ismaila, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.
A devoted Borussia Dortmund fan, Adefolahan thrives on the emotion and rhythm of the beautiful game. Away from work, he’s a sci-fi enthusiast and series lover who enjoys exploring how sport, storytelling, and culture collide.
