Victor Osimhen is facing scrutiny in Turkey after a costly error contributed to Galatasaray‘s failure to wrap up the Super Lig title against Samsunspor, prompting sharp criticism from a former Turkish football figure.
Former Besiktas midfielder Sinan Engin delivered a pointed message to the Nigerian striker on the Beyaz Futbol channel, insisting the 27-year-old must not consider himself above the club. “Osimhen is not bigger than Galatasaray,” Engin said. “He played brilliantly during his loan spell, and I admired him. But now he’s arguing with the referee and his teammates. He’s playing incredibly carelessly. How can he pass to the centre-back? What kind of complacency is that my friend?”
The flashpoint came in the 63rd minute of Galatasaray’s match against Samsunspor — a fixture the Istanbul club needed to win to secure the championship with two rounds remaining. A careless backpass from Osimhen forced goalkeeper Gunay Guvenc to handle the ball outside the penalty area, resulting in a red card that effectively ended Galatasaray’s title push in that match.
The match had started promisingly enough for Galatasaray. Osimhen registered an assist for Yunus Akgun’s opener in the eighth minute, but Samsunspor responded to take a 2–1 lead through goals from Marius Mouandilmadji and Cherif Ndiaye before the sending-off compounded the hosts’ difficulties.
Engin’s frustration centred not only on the technical error but also on Osimhen’s overall demeanour during the match, citing visible disputes with match officials and his own teammates as causes for concern.
Despite the backlash, Osimhen’s broader contributions during his loan spell at Galatasaray — from parent club Napoli — remain statistically impressive. The Super Eagles forward has recorded either a goal or an assist in each of his last eleven Super Lig appearances, underlining his importance to the team’s attacking output throughout the season.
Osimhen joined Galatasaray on loan ahead of the 2024–25 campaign after a turbulent period at Napoli, where his future at the Serie A club had been the subject of prolonged speculation. His performances in Turkey had, until recently, drawn widespread praise and fuelled discussion over a potential permanent move, with reports suggesting Galatasaray are keen to secure his services on a long-term basis — possibly alongside Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes, according to reports.
With the Super Lig title race still mathematically unresolved, Galatasaray will be relying on Osimhen to rediscover the consistency and composure that defined his earlier performances in Istanbul. Any further slip in discipline could prove decisive in what remains a tight title contest.
