Super Eagles’ Osimhen pleased as his ‘brother’ earned Brazil call-up after rejecting Syria

Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has revealed how he jokingly tried to convince his Galatasaray teammate Gabriel Sara to represent Syria before the midfielder eventually received his first senior call-up for Brazil, Afrik-Foot reports.

Sara, who has become one of the standout midfielders in Turkish football since arriving in Istanbul from Norwich City in 2024, was eligible to play for both Brazil and Syria. The 26-year-old was born in Joinville, Brazil, but also qualifies for Syria through his mother’s family roots.

Under FIFA rules, players can represent another country if a biological parent or grandparent was born there, and reports in Syrian media claimed the Syrian Football Federation had made contact with the Galatasaray star about a possible international switch.

However, Sara’s performances for Galatasaray eventually earned him a place in Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the March 2026 international friendlies.

The midfielder reportedly described the invitation to join the Seleção as ‘the chance of a lifetime’, making it clear that his ambition had always been to represent the country of his birth.

Osimhen admitted he teased his teammate about accepting Syria’s proposal, but said he was genuinely proud to see Sara receive recognition from one of football’s biggest national teams.

“Gabriel Sara is my brother. We always talk and joke around,” Osimhen said as per Futbolarena.

“For example, the Syrian National Team had sent an invitation. I told him he absolutely had to accept. He’s someone I respect and love a lot. We tease and criticize each other half-jokingly.

“I was so happy when he got called up to the Brazil National Team. I hope he’ll wear the Brazil National Team jersey in the World Cup and represent his country. Because he’s a player of that level. I love Sara a lot.”

Osimhen, Sara partnership flourishes at Galatasaray

Since arriving at Galatasaray in 2024, both Osimhen and Sara have become central figures in one of the most successful periods in the club’s recent history.

The Super Eagles striker initially joined the Turkish giants on loan from Napoli before his stunning performances convinced the club to complete a permanent transfer. Sara, meanwhile, quickly established himself as the creative heartbeat of the midfield after his move from Norwich City.

Together, the duo helped Galatasaray win back-to-back Turkish Süper Lig titles in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons, while also lifting the Turkish Cup during their first campaign together. Their partnership also inspired the club to major European progress, including consecutive appearances deep into continental competition for the first time in more than a decade.

Osimhen’s individual numbers have been extraordinary. During the 2024/25 season, the Super Eagles forward scored 36 goals in 40 matches across all competitions, becoming the first foreign player in Süper Lig history to score more than 35 goals in a single season.

He finished as the league’s top scorer with 31 league goals and also won multiple individual awards, including Galatasaray Player of the Season. The Nigerian additionally made club history in Europe by scoring in seven consecutive continental matches.

Sara’s influence has been more subtle but equally important. In his first league season in Turkey, the Brazilian midfielder contributed two goals and seven assists in 31 league matches while dictating the tempo of Galatasaray’s play.

He improved even further in the 2025/26 campaign, registering five goals and four assists in his first 27 league appearances. Those displays eventually caught the attention of Ancelotti and the Brazilian coaching staff, leading to the long-awaited international breakthrough.

Osimhen and Sara appear set to remain at Galatasaray next season despite a long list of admirers (including Real Madrid for Osimhen), queueing up for their services this summer.