Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen continues to win hearts and headlines in Turkey, with one prominent football pundit, Adnan Aybaba, going as far as to say the Nigerian striker is far superior to Mauro Icardi and Ciro Immobile.
The comparison came on the back of Osimhen’s blistering form in the Turkish Super Lig, where he currently leads the top scorers’ chart with 24 goals, following a scintillating brace against Sivasspor. Speaking on Turkish sports media outlet GsGazette, Aybaba didn’t mince words in praising the 26-year-old Nigerian forward.
“Take Osimhen out of the Galatasaray team, and the strength of the squad drops significantly. It won’t work with just Barış Alper and Morata,” Aybaba stated. “Put Osimhen in Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, he lifts the level wherever he goes.”
According to the outspoken pundit, Osimhen has not only outshone Galatasaray’s previous talisman Mauro Icardi but has also outperformed Beşiktaş’s Ciro Immobile, who commands a hefty €10 million salary but has yet to live up to expectations.
“34-year-old Immobile in our Beşiktaş earns 10 million Euros and doesn’t play nearly as well as Osimhen. Osimhen came and we forgot Icardi’s name,” Aybaba said emphatically. “He can make 10 Icardis in my eyes, he’s better in terms of character, discipline, and football.”
Aybaba also recalled how Osimhen had been offered to Turkish giants Fenerbahçe in the past but was rejected, a decision he now describes as a major miss.
“He was offered to Fenerbahçe, but they turned him down. The one who rejected him was Acun Ilıcalı,” Aybaba revealed.
The pundit added that Osimhen’s influence at Galatasaray extends beyond the pitch. His connection with the fans, especially children, and his discipline and professionalism make him not just a great player but a model figure in Turkish football.
“He gets along well with children. He felt like he had been playing for Galatasaray for 10 years after just one meeting with coach Okan Buruk,” Aybaba noted.
As Osimhen’s star continues to rise in Turkey, his reputation as one of Africa’s finest exports only grows stronger. With analysts like Aybaba placing him on a pedestal above seasoned European names, the Nigerian forward’s stock continues to soar, and so do expectations.
Could a move to one of Europe’s true elite clubs be next? With performances like these, Osimhen may well be writing the next chapter of his career sooner than expected.
