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Arun - September 3, 2024
Victor Osimhen had the busiest transfer day deadline of the Summer 2024 transfer window with clubs vying for his signature.
The Nigerian talisman attracted the interest of various European clubs following a brilliant 2022/23 season in which he won Serie A with Napoli and was the league’s leading goal scorer with 26 goals.
Chelsea and Al Ahli were the front-runners to sign the Nigerian international but an agreement could not be reached between the players and Napoli, resulting in a failed transfer for both parties on deadline day.
However, Turkish Giants Galatasaray made a shocking move for the Nigerian international, offering a year-long loan contract, which Osimhen approved. An agreement was reached, and he was greeted with a magnificent entrance by Galatasaray fans.
This move has aroused speculations over whether the move to Galatasaray was a step forward or back in his career, after the rejection of a transfer to Al Ahli and a failed effort to sign for Chelsea.
As a result, we will look at how this transfer will affect his career and his impact on the Galatasaray team in the 2024/25 season.
Galatasaray head coach, Buruk Okan is well known for his tactical formation of a 4-2-3-1 or a transition to 4-4-2 with two aggressive strikers and wingers with greater room on the flanks to breach the opponent’s defense.
Meanwhile, Victor Osimhen has extensive experience as a lone striker for Napoli as well as his National team Nigeria, making him an ideal fit for Buruk Okan’s system.
Galatasaray presently possesses a prolific goal scorer in Mauro Icardi, who was the top scorer in the Turkish league last season with 25 goals and has started scoring this season for the Turkish giant.
Mauro Icardi’s stellar stats under Buruk Okan will make it tough for Victor Osimhen to replace him in the starting eleven; thus, Okan’s tactical transition to a 4-4-2 approach will be able to accommodate the two talismans.
This combination of Osimhen and Icardi upfront will inflict significant damage on opposing defensive lines, making Galatasaray more dangerous offensively.
Fortunately, Buruk Okan has strong midfield creators in Dries Mertens and Hakim Ziyech, who can create several chances for the duo upfront to score many goals for the team.
Victor Osimhen’s dream is to continue playing in Europe since he still has so much quality to offer with age on his side.
This ambition led him to turn off a lucrative transfer to Al Ahli, but a potential move to Chelsea was unable to be resolved on salary structure on deadline day.
A move to Galatasaray is a significant step in his career to reclaim his peak form after dealing with injuries last season, despite scoring fifteen Serie A goals for Napoli.
The Nigerian international prowess is undeniable with his records speaking volumes, and it’s no surprise that he’s the current African best player.
Osimhen is a perfect fit for Buruk Okan’s tactics and we anticipate a fantastic loan spell in Turkey that will result in a plethora of goals to demonstrate his quality once more to the world.
A sensational loan spell in Turkey will attract juicy offers from elite teams across the world and we expect a bidding war for the Nigerian international in the summer transfer window next year.
Victor Osimhen’s quality is undisputed and we believe a player of his caliber will always thrive in every situation. The move to Galatasaray is a huge step towards regaining his top form and returning to Europe following a good loan spell.
