Victor Osimhen is doubtlessly enjoying life on loan at Turkish giants Galatasaray, with his 17 goals helping the Cimbom to the summit of the Super Lig table.
The Nigeria forward is well-placed to end the campaign as league champion and topscorer; even so, many have found recent rumours reporting Osimhen's supposed interest in making his stay at Galatasaray permanent rather surprising.
It is, indeed, hard to argue that such a move would be in Osimhen's best interests. From that perspective, here are three reasons why the 26-year-old would be better off packing up and moving on after his temporary stay in Turkey is done.
Turkey is ill-suited to Victor Osimhen's personal ambitions
Given all he has accomplished already, it is easy to forget Osimhen is still not quite at his peak, and thus has plenty more to aspire to.
Osimhen's chances of maximising his potential would, needless to say, be facilitated by a platform much bigger than that offered by Turkish football.
Turkey is by no means a gloomy destination for a footballer — the passion of the country's fans is unmatched, for one — but it is largely a place for has-beens looking to wind down their careers, certainly not for a player in his prime, like Osimhen.
Turkish football is too murky
Turkey is not just a really small pond; its waters are incredibly murky, too. Frequently marred by instances of teams staging walk-offs mid-game, crowd trouble, verbal exchanges, lawsuits, and a shocking catalogue of conspiracy theories.
The league's lack of credibility as perceived by observers, especially from within, is the reason last month's ‘Intercontinental Derby’ clash between archrivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahce could only be satisfactorily officiated by an imported referee — and even in the aftermath of that fixture arose a mist that has not settled yet.
As it happens, Osimhen's Galatasaray is the one side in whose favour much of the league believes the Turkish football system is rigged.
That would mean whatever Osimhen and his team achieve — they are presently not far from securing a third straight league title — would feel somewhat diminished, if not altogether blemished.
Why endure such an incredibly toxic atmosphere much longer?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner
Osimhen, in a recent interview, expressed his “desperate” desire to play at a FIFA World Cup, having missed out on his first attempt (Qatar 2022).
Surely, though, if there is anything he wants more than merely appearing at next year's showpiece in North America — if the Super Eagles do qualify — it is to arrive for the tournament with the wind in his sails, as one of the world's best strikers.
It goes without saying that such a drive would be best-propelled by spending next season at a level significantly higher than Turkish football.
And with Osimhen having admirers from top clubs in Europe's bigger leagues, there is hardly any point sticking around.
