Victor Osimhen Will Be Galatasaray’s Biggest Problem Next Season, Ex-Besiktas Midfielder Sinan Engin Warns

Victor Osimhen’s brilliance has been central to Galatasaray’s dominance in Turkish football this season, but a former Besiktas midfielder believes that very success could generate complications for the Istanbul club in the campaign ahead.

Sinan Engin, who accumulated significant experience in Turkish football during his time at Besiktas and other clubs, has issued a candid assessment of the challenges Galatasaray face in retaining and managing the Nigerian forward. “Next season, Osimhen will be the biggest problem for the Galatasaray management,” Engin stated. “Osimhen won’t be able to play this comfortably next season. Opponents won’t leave him that much space.”

Engin’s warning arrives on the back of one of the more commanding individual campaigns in recent Süper Lig history. The 27-year-old Super Eagles striker registered 22 goals and eight assists across 33 appearances this season, with his most decisive contribution coming on Saturday when a second-half brace secured a 4-2 victory over Antalyaspor at Rams Park — the result that clinched Galatasaray’s fourth consecutive league title, a historic achievement for the club.

Despite the success, Osimhen’s long-term future in Turkey remains uncertain. According to reports, the forward has attracted interest from several of Europe’s most prominent clubs, including Barcelona, Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. While Osimhen has publicly expressed affection for Galatasaray, sources suggest that a substantial offer during the summer transfer window could be enough to prompt a departure.

Osimhen joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan from Napoli ahead of the 2024-25 campaign after a high-profile move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli collapsed. His impact in Turkey was immediate and sustained, with the forward quickly establishing himself as one of the most influential players in the Süper Lig. His output this season comfortably surpasses his previous loan spell statistics and has intensified speculation about whether Galatasaray will attempt to make his deal permanent.

Engin’s specific concern appears to centre on the tactical adjustments opponents will inevitably make once they have had a full season to study Osimhen’s movement and tendencies. It is a pattern that has followed the striker throughout his career — defenders and coaching staff adapting to limit his impact — though Osimhen has historically demonstrated the ability to evolve his game in response.

For Galatasaray, the summer presents a dual dilemma: if Osimhen remains, managing expectations and negotiating a permanent transfer fee with Napoli will require careful handling; if he departs, replacing a striker of his calibre in a transfer market where top forwards command premium fees will be no straightforward task.

The club’s sporting directorate will also need to weigh Engin’s broader point about competitive adaptation. Galatasaray’s title run has benefited significantly from Osimhen operating with a degree of freedom that rival defences — stretched thin across a gruelling season — could not consistently suppress. A fresh campaign, with opponents having studied him extensively, may present a starkly different environment.