Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen has expressed his admiration for José Mourinho, describing the Portuguese tactician as a “great coach” and acknowledging his legacy in the sport.
Osimhen's Galatasaray faced off against Mourinho's Fenerbahçe in the highly anticipated intercontinental derby on Monday, with the encounter ending in a hard-fought stalemate.
The Nigerian forward’s comments come amid growing mutual respect between the two, adding another layer to their intriguing relationship in the Süper Lig.
Osimhen reflects on Mourinho’s influence and reputation
In the aftermath of the match, Osimhen lauded Mourinho, recognising the Fenerbahçe manager’s esteemed status in football and expressing his deep admiration for him.
“He is an important coach. Our coach is also a big name and has a great legacy in Turkish football. I don't talk about other teams' coaches, but I respect Mourinho. He is a great coach,” Osimhen said as shared by Gazetebirlik.
Their relationship dates back to their time in Italy, when Osimhen starred for Napoli while Mourinho managed AS Roma.
Following Napoli’s 2-1 victory over Roma in a Serie A clash in January 2023, the 62-year-old coach said, “I told him, you’re a good player but you don’t always need to dive. He’s a good player. I clapped for his goal from my seat.”
In July 2024, Mourinho compared the 26-year-old to Chelsea legend Didier Drogba while highlighting a key difference in their playing styles. “He is of the same level as Drogba, but Didier didn't dive,” Mourinho stated.
He further suggested that Osimhen would need to adapt if he were to move to the Premier League, adding, “If he does go to England one day, he needs to change, because in Italy they put up with this sort of behaviour, whereas in the Premier League, they'd come down hard on him.”
