“He helped me” – Victor Osimhen lauds Spalletti ahead of Galatasaray-Juventus UCL showdown

Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen was full of praise for his ex-manager at Napoli, Luciano Spalletti, Afrik Foot reports.

The Italian manager was in charge of Napoli between 2021 and 2023, coaching Gli Azzurri to their first Serie A title in over three decades.

Afterwards, the 66-year-old requested a year-long sabbatical from Napoli, which the club granted him, but three months later, he was appointed as the coach of the Italian national team.

Meanwhile, in his absence, Osimhen fell out with his replacement, Rudi Garcia, before the clash with the club’s hierarchy happened after they posted a video with racist remarks on their social media page.

In the same season, Napoli appointed Walter Mazzarri and Francesco Calzona, neither of whom could repair the deteriorated relationship between Osimhen and the club.

Antonio Conte eventually steadied the ship in the summer, but Osimhen had his mind set on an exit, and he joined Galatasaray, while the ex-Chelsea coach won the Scudetto with Napoli.

Victor Osimhen lauds Spalletti ahead of UCL showdown

Juventus appointed Spalletti after sacking Igor Tudor in October 2025, and the Old Ladies are set for a trip to Turkey to take on Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League play-off first leg.

The game will see Osimhen link up with his former coach, and he had nothing but good things to say ahead of the game about the ex-Inter Milan coach.

“People said we argued, but that wasn’t true. I have a lot of respect for him,” the 27-year-old said in quotes revealed by Fanatik.

“He slept at Napoli’s training centre for months, working day and night to convince us we could win the Scudetto.

“He brought Kim, Anguissa, Kvaratskhelia, and even me to our best form, and we achieved victory with a club that hadn’t managed it in decades.

“He expected a lot, but he gave you a lot. Some coaches help you develop as a person first, and then as a footballer,” Victor Osimhen concluded.

Kick-off for the game between Galatasaray and Juventus at RAMS is slated for 6:45 WAT.

The second leg will be played at the Allianz Arena in Turin next Wednesday.