Mourinho Gives his "Special" Welcome to Osimhen
The transfer market in Turkey has witnessed one of the most surprising moves: Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has joined Galatasaray on loan from Napoli. Despite being linked to clubs like Chelsea and PSG, Osimhen finally ended up at the reigning Süper Lig champions. His arrival has generated great excitement among fans and experts, who consider this signing one of the most notable of the season.
Osimhen has signed a one-season loan deal, with no option or obligation for Galatasaray to purchase him. His arrival in Istanbul was met with great enthusiasm by thousands of fans waiting for him at the airport. However, his future remains uncertain, as there is a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave in the next winter transfer window if offers arrive from some of the top ten European clubs, such as Real Madrid, Arsenal, or Bayern Munich. This means his stay in Turkey could be brief, although the Nigerian has shown his commitment to the club and fans, declaring that he is ready to give his best while at Galatasaray.
One of the key factors that led Osimhen to join the Turkish team was the influence of his former Napoli teammate, Dries Mertens, who currently plays for Galatasaray. Osimhen mentioned that Mertens helped him make the decision, and he is eager to share the dressing room with him again, as well as meet the rest of his new teammates.
However, the Nigerian's arrival did not go unnoticed by his next rival in the Turkish league, Fenerbahçe, managed by José Mourinho. True to his style, the Portuguese coach did not miss the chance to comment on the striker and spark the excitement ahead of the upcoming derby. In an interview with a local outlet, Mourinho praised Osimhen’s talent but didn’t hesitate to add a bit of criticism. "Victor is a great player, one of the best in Africa along with Salah, but he sometimes exaggerates. He dives too much on the field, and that’s something I don’t like about his game," said the Portuguese coach.
Mourinho, who has faced Osimhen several times during his stint at Roma, added that despite these remarks, he maintains a good relationship with the player. "I’ve always respected him, and I’m sure he will be an important figure for Galatasaray, but as a rival, I won’t hesitate to point out what I consider a bad habit in his game," he concluded. With these statements, Mourinho has begun his usual psychological game, making it clear that the next match between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray will be one of the most anticipated clashes of the season.
