Napoli loanee to Galatasaray Victor Osimhen has spoken of his relationship with Mauro Icardi and Michy Batshuayi at the Turkish club.
The Nigeria international joined Galatasaray as a last resort after a failed attempt to join Chelsea in the Premier League or Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia.
Before he switched to the Turkish giants, Galatasaray had top two strikers – Mauro Icardi and Michy Batshuayi – leading the pack in the club’s attack.
As expected, Osimhen’s move to the club would twist the balance of power on who plays where and when in the team.
Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk is known for his flexible 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 formation. Both Michy Batshuayi and Mauro Icardi could be lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, or either of the strikers could be used as a lone forward in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
With Osimhen joining from Napoli, the competition for who starts in the attack will thicken between the three strikers.
However, the Nigeria international boasting a good sense of professionalism in the sport has said he is ready to work together and collaborate with the two strikers.
This implies he is open to pairing with either of them or making way for the other as decided by the coach.
According to him, he is not looking at supplanting the two forwards but learning from and collaborating with them.
“Icardi is a legend of this game. Batshuayi is also a deadly player. I have things to learn from them, we will cooperate. We will improve each other’s quality,” Osimhen told the club’s official website.
Victor Osimhen’s Galatasaray chances
Fortunately for Osimhen, he can easily adapt to any attacking formula Buruk will want to use. The 25-year-old has played as a partnering striker for Nigeria’s national team and as a lone striker for Napoli. He can perfectly combine both roles and is best placed to fit into any adopted by Buruk.
Meanwhile, with his prolific goal-scoring form, the 2022-23 Scudetto winner is more likely to start ahead of the other two strikers as a lone forward or be paired with any of them.
Obviously, Icardi and Batshuayi would not be overjoyed that Osimhen has come to take their position. Nonetheless, Osimhen insists that he wants to collaborate with the former Chelsea and Inter Milan players and forge a good relationship with them.
Okan Buruk has alternated between Michy Batshuayi and Victor Osimhen in his last three matches.
Batshuayi was used as a lone striker in the 3-1 Super Lig win over Gaziantep on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
Osimhen replaced the former Fenerbache forward in the 3-1 Super Lig cracker against Fenerbache on Saturday, September 21, 2024. Osimhen was also used as a lone striker in the 3-1 UEFA Europa League opening win over POAK on Wednesday, September 25. 2024 with Michy Batshuayi and Mauro Icardi starting from the bench.
Victor Osimhen’s performance for Galatasaray
Osimhen recorded a brilliant start to life with Galatasaray. He made his debut in a 5-0 thrashing of Rizespor. While the Nigeria international failed to find the back of the net in the game, he registered an assist, helping the team secure the victory.
He has yet to find the back of the net for the club in three games but has assisted thrice. The reigning CAF Footballer of the Year will hope to score his first Galatasaray goal soon.
Meanwhile, he could leave the club in the January transfer window. Futballnews understands while he is joining the outfit on a season-long loan deal, there is a break clause attached to the deal that will allow him to leave in January 2025 should a bigger European club come knocking.
