Former Spor commentator, Reha Kapsal, has lauded Victor Osimhen, describing the Nigerian striker as the central figure powering Galatasaray’s push for success in the UEFA Champions League this season.
Going into the final matchday of the Champions League league phase, the Lions sit 17th on the table with 10 points from seven matches.
A win against Manchester City on Wednesday, January 28 would guarantee Galatasaray a place in the playoffs, while a draw or even a loss could still be enough, depending on results elsewhere.
Although Osimhen has not scored in his last two Champions League outings, he previously led the scoring charts after netting six goals in his first three matches, including a hat-trick against Ajax Amsterdam.
The former African Footballer of the Year has also been influential domestically, registering seven goals in 13 appearances in the Turkish Super Lig to help Galatasaray maintain their position at the top of the table.
Kapsal believes Galatasaray’s Champions League journey and their strong domestic performances are largely down to Osimhen’s impact on the team.
“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 said.
“Osimhen is the player who primarily enabled Galatasaray to become the leader and continue its journey in the Champions League.”
Osimhen was also on the scoresheet in Galatasaray’s latest league match, scoring the final goal in a 3-1 win over Fatih Karagümrük.
