Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has drawn criticism in Turkey following his heated reaction towards teammate Yunus Akgün during Galatasaray’s emphatic 4-0 win over Kayserispor.
The incident, which occurred during one of Galatasaray’s attacking moves, saw Osimhen visibly frustrated after a missed passing opportunity. His outburst sparked debate among Turkish analysts, with former international forward Nihat Kahveci weighing in during a post-match analysis on Kontraspor’s YouTube channel.
Kahveci suggested that the episode underlined the challenges of managing Galatasaray’s star-studded frontline, while also questioning whether Osimhen would have reacted the same way if the situation had involved captain Mauro Icardi.
“When Icardi is physically ready, we will watch the two of them play together up front in the Super Lig,” Kahveci said.
“But would Osimhen shout at Icardi if he doesn’t pass the ball? He cannot. Icardi is the captain, the leader, the king. These are what I would call Galatasaray’s sweet problems.”
The ex-Real Sociedad forward, who earned more than 60 caps for Turkey, stressed that Osimhen’s reaction was less about disrespect and more about the competitive standards within Galatasaray’s dressing room, which is brimming with attacking talent.
Osimhen has quickly become a key figure for the Turkish champions. After a record-breaking loan spell last season where he netted 37 goals across all competitions, the Nigerian sealed a permanent move from Serie A giants Napoli this summer.
His much-anticipated partnership with Icardi is expected to spearhead Okan Buruk’s quest for a fourth consecutive Super Lig crown. However, with the arrival of Leroy Sané from Bayern Munich and the rapid rise of youngster Baris Yilmaz, Buruk faces the delicate task of balancing both egos and playing time among his forwards.
For Osimhen, the incident has sparked conversation about leadership dynamics in Galatasaray’s attack, but analysts believe it may ultimately prove to be part of the growing pains of a squad stacked with offensive firepower.
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