Victor Osimhen Credits Galatasaray Legend Fernando Muslera After Securing Back-to-Back Super Lig Titles

Victor Osimhen has paid tribute to Galatasaray club legend Fernando Muslera, crediting the retired Uruguayan goalkeeper with helping him settle into life in Istanbul following his arrival at the Turkish club.

The Nigeria international was instrumental in Galatasaray’s championship-clinching win over Antalyaspor on Saturday, netting a brace at RAMS Park to seal the club’s 26th Super Lig title. The result also means Osimhen has now won the Turkish top-flight title in consecutive seasons, having first arrived at the club on loan the previous campaign.

Speaking during an Instagram Live session with supporters after the final whistle, Osimhen was joined by Muslera and did not hold back in expressing his admiration for the former shot-stopper. “Muslera, that’s my captain right there; I need to say something about him,” the 2023 CAF Player of the Year said. “This guy is a big legend in the dressing room, always motivating us even if he’s far away.”

Osimhen went further, describing the personal bond that formed between the two men when he first joined the Istanbul outfit. “He’s actually one of the few people who are attached to this great club; he’s a big legend, we miss him,” the striker continued. “Muslera embraced me when I came here like a real man, and I was like a little boy. He took me as his own, and I appreciate it. Thank you again.”

Muslera, who made his international debut for Uruguay in 2009 and went on to accumulate 134 caps for his country, retired from international football earlier this year. The goalkeeper spent the majority of his career at Galatasaray, becoming one of the most decorated and respected figures in the club’s modern history.

Osimhen’s performances across both Super Lig seasons have reinforced his standing as one of African football’s premier strikers. The 26-year-old joined Galatasaray on loan from Napoli last season after a protracted transfer saga, and his consistent goal contributions have been central to the club’s domestic dominance. Reports have previously indicated that Galatasaray are keen to make his stay permanent, with figures suggesting the Turkish side are prepared to table a substantial offer to secure his services beyond the current arrangement.

For Galatasaray, a 26th league title further cements their position as the most successful club in Turkish football history. The victory over Antalyaspor at RAMS Park brought another season of Super Lig competition to a decisive close, with Osimhen’s double proving the difference on a landmark evening for the Istanbul club.