Turkish Football Pundit Lauds Victor Osimhen's Transformative Role at Galatasaray
A prominent Turkish football commentator has showered praise on Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, highlighting his crucial influence on Galatasaray's UEFA Champions League campaign this season. The Super Eagles forward has emerged as the undisputed difference-maker for the Turkish champions since his arrival at the club.
Osimhen's Monumental Impact Since Joining Galatasaray
Victor Osimhen joined Galatasaray initially on loan during the 2024/25 season before making his transfer permanent at the start of the current campaign. Since then, he has established himself as the team's most valuable player, with his performances proving instrumental in their European success. The Turkish giants are heavily reliant on Osimhen's contributions, particularly in the Champions League, to justify their substantial investment of €75 million in transfer fees and significant wages.
Turkish commentator Reha Kapsal offered glowing praise for the Nigerian international, describing him as the central pillar of Galatasaray's European ambitions. "Osimhen has officially become the 'palace' of Galatasaray; he's the one who brought Galatasaray to this point. I haven't seen another player recently who single-handedly changed a team's environment so much," Kapsal stated in an interview quoted by Haber Sari Kirmizi.
He further emphasized Osimhen's role in Galatasaray's Champions League journey, noting "Osimhen is the player who primarily enabled Galatasaray to become the leader and continue its journey in the Champions League."
Crucial Champions League Showdown Against Manchester City
Galatasaray faces a decisive final group stage match against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The Turkish side currently sits 17th on the 36-team table with 10 points, holding a three-point advantage over 27th-place Club Brugge. A victory would guarantee their progression to the knockout stages, while a draw or even a loss could still suffice depending on results from other final day matches.
The statistics underscore Osimhen's importance to the team's European fortunes. Galatasaray has struggled in his absence this season, losing both Champions League matches when the Nigerian striker was unavailable due to injury and his participation in AFCON 2025. The team suffered a 5-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in their opening match, but then secured three consecutive victories against Liverpool, Bodo/Glimt, and Ajax, during which Osimhen contributed six goals according to Transfermarkt data.
During his absence, Galatasaray lost to Royal Union Saint-Gilloise and Monaco. However, upon his return from international duty, the Lions managed to secure a valuable point against Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium, despite Osimhen not finding the net in that encounter.
Osimhen's Impressive Season Statistics and Manager's Confidence
Beyond his European contributions, Victor Osimhen has maintained strong domestic form, scoring seven league goals to bring his total for the season to 13 goals across all competitions for the Istanbul-based club. Manager Okan Buruk is counting on the Nigerian forward to deliver another standout performance against Manchester City to secure the result needed for knockout stage qualification.
The Nigerian striker has already sent a message to Manchester City ahead of this crucial encounter, recognizing the must-win nature of the match for Galatasaray's Champions League aspirations. As the Turkish champions prepare for their most significant test of the group stage, all eyes will be on Osimhen to once again prove his worth as the team's most influential player.
