Victor Osimhen, Galatasaray’s most exciting striker since Metin Oktay – President Özbek

The president of Galatasaray, Dursun Özbek, believes Victor Osimhen is the most exciting striker to play for the club since the legendary Metin Oktay, Afrik-Foot reports.

Galatasaray have had many great goalscorers over the years. Club icons include Didier Drogba, Burak Yılmaz and Hakan Şükür. Even Osimhen’s current teammate Mauro Icardi has written his name into the club’s history. Icardi is Galatasaray’s highest-scoring foreign player and has won five trophies, including three straight Super Lig titles.

Despite that rich history, Özbek says Osimhen stands out.

The only striker he places above the Nigerian forward is Metin Oktay, Galatasaray’s all-time leading scorer. Oktay, who died in 1991 at the age of 55, won the league’s Golden Boot six times and helped the club win two Super Lig titles and four Turkish Cups. He remains one of the biggest legends in Turkish football.

“Among the strikers who have played for Galatasaray, after Metin Oktay, Victor Osimhen is the one who excites me the most,” Özbek said as per Habersarikirmizi.

Victor Osimhen and Galatasaray’s Champions League dream

Osimhen may still have a long journey before reaching Oktay’s legendary status, but he is already being mentioned alongside the greats. The Super Eagles striker has impressed not only in matches but also in training.

“We admire Osimhen even when we watch him in training,” Özbek noted. “He performs as if he’s in a match even there. We’re afraid he might get injured.”

That energy has helped Galatasaray dream big again in Europe. The club reached the Champions League Round of 16 for the first time in 12 years, with Osimhen playing a key role. He has scored seven goals and provided two assists in just eight European matches. One of his most important goals came against Juventus, helping eliminate the Italian giants.

Now an even tougher test awaits. Galatasaray will face Liverpool over two legs. The first match will be played at RAMS Park in Istanbul, before the return leg at Anfield.

If Osimhen can lead the Turkish champions past Liverpool and into the quarter-finals, his place in Galatasaray history could rise to near-legendary level.