Galatasaray’s Napoli transfer Osimhen set sights on championship at Türkiye’s Super Lig

By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

Striker Victor Osimhen shared his thoughts on his move from Napoli to Turkish side Galatasaray and his hunger for success in a YouTube chat posted Thursday with John Obi Mikel, his compatriot and former Chelsea defender.

Reflecting on his time at Napoli, Osimhen spoke about the lasting legacy of Argentine legend Diego Maradona in Naples: “Maradona is like a demigod in Naples, a very big figure. No one can beat Maradona there, it’s futile. You can win them five Champions Leagues or 10 Scudettos (Italian league titles), but you can never eclipse Maradona. There is nothing any player can do to surpass him because he single-handedly took the club to glory.”

He also mentioned his ongoing friendships with teammates Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Dries Mertens, recalling their time together at Napoli. “I told Kvara, ‘You really deserve it. Go to Paris and enjoy it’,” he said. “I’m used to Mertens, how he plays. I haven’t really found my own rhythm yet. There are some balls he used to give me in the games that I don’t go for now, but when we played at Napoli, I used to go for those balls. He’s one of my favorite people to be on the pitch with.”

Osimhen revealed that his transfer to Galatasaray was significantly influenced by his conversation with head coach Okan Buruk.

"The coach spoke to me and told me about the possibility if I would like to come and I asked him about the project. He spoke to me and this ain't about the money yet. He told me everything and I could see a man that is passionate about the game because he also played for this club and won lots (of trophies) his passion for the game, because he has played for this club and achieved success here. He told me about the club, the fans, the club, everything. The more I talked to him, the more was picked up an interest. Almost even hours after our first conversation, I said, 'Get it done'.”

The 26-year-old also shared that he has adapted well to life in Türkiye, saying that his favorite drink is tea. “I drink more than seven a day. When I visit my friends, they already know what I would like,” he said.

Emphasizing that he feels at home at Galatasaray, the Nigerian player said: "Since when I got into the dressing room, I was like, 'Yeah, I'm home.'"

The star striker added that their most important goal is to be champions in the Super Lig. "I want to be champions with Galatasaray. They want to win it back-to-back."