Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has placed Victor Osimhen in the same bracket as Europe’s elite forwards, insisting the Nigerian striker is as vital to his side as Kylian Mbappé is to Real Madrid and Harry Kane is to Bayern Munich, Footynaija reports.
Osimhen has enjoyed a strong campaign in Turkey, registering 19 goals and seven assists in 29 appearances across all competitions. His influence has been particularly felt in Europe, where he has delivered decisive performances, including goals against Juventus, Liverpool and Ajax.
While Mbappé and Kane continue to post higher overall numbers in Europe’s top five leagues, Buruk believes raw statistics do not fully capture a player’s importance to a team.
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“This is Osimhen’s third injury. It’s his third game since the start of the season,” Buruk said via Habersarikirmizi.
“It’s been mentioned a lot lately, but some players are crucial for certain teams. Osimhen trained with the team for a long period yesterday. His participation is having a very positive impact. Osimhen is one of the driving forces of this team. We’ll see if he goes to Ankara. Just as Mbappe is for Real Madrid, and Harry Kane is for Bayern Munich, Osimhen is for us. You play these kinds of matches with strong players.”
Galatasaray’s recent dominance in the Turkish game has provided the backdrop for Osimhen’s rise. The club have won the last three Süper Lig titles and are currently top of the table as they push for a fourth consecutive crown.
Buruk’s side are also still competing in the Turkish Cup, keeping alive hopes of another domestic double. The manager made clear that his squad is fully committed to finishing the season strongly.
“We will sacrifice everything in these four weeks and win both trophies. The players promised the fans a championship when they signed for Galatasaray. They will fulfill that promise.”
Galatasaray will make the trip to Gençlerbirliği this weekend with anything short of victory will see Fenerbahçe overtake the champions.
