13.03.2025 19:30
Galatasaray's star Victor Osimhen was a guest on his compatriot Obi Mikel's program. Making striking confessions about the yellow-red team and sharing his goals for this season, Osimhen said, "I want to become a champion with Galatasaray. It would be amazing to win back-to-back championships. If we win, I will be the happiest person. I need to send a clear message to some people. This is a personal matter for me."
The Nigerian star Victor Osimhen, who was loaned from Napoli to Galatasaray, was a guest on the "The Obi One Podcast" channel hosted by former footballer and compatriot John Obi Mikel, who once played for Trabzonspor. Osimhen made striking confessions about the yellow-reds.
"BEING AT GALATASARAY IS GREAT"
Victor Osimhen: Galatasaray is a wonderful club. One of the biggest clubs in the world. The best in Turkey.
Obi Mikel: How is life in Turkey?
Victor Osimhen: It seems to feel great. I felt that it would be an incredible welcome the moment I arrived. What we experienced with my family from the airport to the hotel shows that this club is much more than just a club for them. This is a big family. I feel privileged to be here. I think of all the great world-class players who have played in this club. That's why being here is great for me.
OBI MIKEL COULDN'T BELIEVE IT
Obi Mikel: I know how stars are welcomed in Turkey, but yours was something else!
Victor Osimhen: I didn't know that fans were following my flight and that so many people were waiting at the airport at 3 AM.
Obi Mikel: What! Isn't that excessive?
Victor Osimhen: It felt like a movie scene for me. The moment I entered the locker room, I thought, I guess this place makes me feel more at home than anywhere else.
Obi Mikel: Did they follow you all the way to the hotel? No way! What if they booked a room and stayed at the hotel!
Victor Osimhen: Yes, some stayed at the same hotel as me! They made me feel at home. I really haven't experienced anything like this.
"THIS PLACE FEELS LIKE HOME"
Victor Osimhen: From the moment I entered the locker room at Galatasaray, I thought about how the players welcomed me. I guess this place makes me feel more at home than anywhere else. That's why it was very nice for me to accept this project of Galatasaray.
Victor Osimhen: No, I didn't drink before. I just got used to it when I came here. Yes, tea is always being brewed. My family got used to it too. I drink tea all the time. I really like it. Most of the time when I visit my friends and teammates, they know what to offer me when I go to their homes. That's why I love it so much. For me, it's important to quickly adapt to people and their cultures. How they play, the relationship between players and fans. So when people see this, they love you even more.
Victor Osimhen: The club's symbol is a lion, and I see myself in that category. In terms of my playing style and my struggle for survival. In terms of what I've experienced throughout my life journey. That's why it was quite easy for me to accept this club.
"OKAN BURUK'S ROLE IS SIGNIFICANT"
Victor Osimhen: Every time I went to training, I saw them down there. (The fans) were always there. Everywhere. Every time I went down to the reception, I signed at least 10 jerseys. They always wait for me at the reception. Most of them say to me, 'We didn't believe you would come here.' But it was easy for me to come here. Very easy. Because the coach played a big role too. Of course, I was already watching their matches. Because I am very close to Dries. I was watching their matches even before I dreamed of coming here. I was really following closely. When I spoke with the coach, he explained the project to me. He talked about the club's goals and the objectives they set for this season. I think they have the same mindset as us.
"I'M TRYING TO REACH 100%"
Victor Osimhen: Honestly, I didn't have a very good pre-season. You know, some things were mixed up. There was a bit of chaos. That's why I'm still trying to reach my 100% form. But so far, everything is going well. The club has helped me a lot in adapting. My teammates have too. I still have a lot to give. I believe that. So even if I don't score or assist, I can really be that forward, that player. I can fight for my teammates and my team. I'm sure of that. I can struggle for them. The only thing that matters to me is winning. This will be an incredible and historic achievement. Not just for the club, but for me, my family, and my loved ones as well. That's why I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.
"I'M MY BIGGEST CRITIC"
Victor Osimhen: First of all, I am my biggest critic. That's why I don't pay much attention to the negative things people say about me, whether online or elsewhere. Because I still feel that we can give more. I often miss opportunities, but at the same time, I score incredible goals. Sometimes in the most unexpected moments. That's why I often look at myself and think. I score 1 or 2 goals in a match, but I feel I could have scored more. I felt that way in the Tottenham match too. Yes, I thought I could score 5 goals, but I only scored 2. That's why I wasn't very satisfied, but the team won. That's the important thing for me. After all, I went into the locker room, and Mertens came to me. He always does this; 'Why didn't you take the ball?' Muslera also came to me and said, 'Why didn't you take the ball, why did you miss this opportunity?' Then I went home and watched the match highlights again. I told myself, 'Victor, you could have done that.' That's why I'm still trying to improve myself. And I think I've improved a lot since the beginning of my career. I've become one of the best players in my position. But I still have a lot to improve in myself.
"MERTENS ALWAYS ACTED LIKE AN OLDER BROTHER"
Victor Osimhen: Dries always treated me like an older brother. He was an incredible person when we played together in Napoli. Yes, he and his wife really helped me a lot. When I first arrived in Napoli, he always supported me. Because I was living in the same place as Fabian Ruiz. When Dries came to visit Ruiz, he would also stop by to see me. He would invite me too. We would go to Ruiz's house together. Most of the time after training, he would come to me, visit me in the locker room. Sometimes when I was feeling down or angry during training, he would come and talk to me. Sometimes even outside the field. That's why I'm used to Mertens' playing style. But as I said, I haven't fully found my rhythm yet, and sometimes I can't reach some of the passes he gives me. While playing in Napoli, I would always go for those balls. That's why I need to find my own rhythm. It takes time to adapt to him. But he is one of the players I enjoy playing with the most on the field. I love playing with him. Mertens really knows me well. He knows exactly where to pass the ball when I make a run. He is a great person off the field too. He is really a good guy. You never feel bad energy when he is around. He is someone I truly value.
HOW DID THE TRANSFER TO GALATASARAY HAPPEN?
Obi Mikel: What was the most decisive factor in your transfer to Galatasaray?
Victor Osimhen: When I think about everything that happened, I had already made my decision.
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I just kept focusing on training and my work. Then I received a call from Okan Buruk. And just a week before, I was watching them against Young Boys. I was already following their matches closely because some of the players here were my idols. So when the call came, I spoke with the coach, and at that time, they were away. He was on the plane and said to me, 'We are flying now, I will call you in 1-2 hours.' I said 'okay' and waited. He called me back, we talked. He asked if it was possible for me to come if they wanted me. I asked him about the project. He told me about the project, and we hadn't even gotten to the money part yet. While talking to him, I saw his passion for Galatasaray. Because he is someone who has played for this club and achieved success here. He talked to me about the club's goals, the city, the people, the fans, and everything. As I talked to him, my interest grew even more. I started to get curious about this place and said, 'Okay, let's do it.' I was ready. Then he said to me, 'Victor, are you serious?' I said, 'Yes, let's do it.' Then he said, 'Okay. I will call you in 30 minutes.' I think he spoke with the people at the club and told them, 'Yes, Victor is coming.' Then I received a call from one of the vice presidents. He said, 'I just wanted to make sure.' I said, 'Yes, I spoke with the coach. Let's do this.' My family was with me. My daughter was there too. I said, 'If you are ready, I am ready too.' They said, 'Yes.' They said they could pick me up the next day. Yes, that's how it happened. A private jet was ready at 10 AM, and we quickly boarded. It was really nice. But I had to wait until the evening. The paperwork was being handled. I talked to my family. I called my family and friends in Nigeria and said, 'We have to go! We are going to Istanbul. A big club. A wonderful city. I need a bit of fresh air.' What happened during the summer was really a big change for me. I needed to play football, and that was the most important thing for me.
"WE HAVE A LOT TO DEVELOP"
Victor Osimhen: We have a lot to develop. But to be honest, no one can deny the quality this team has. From the goalkeeper to the forwards. And there is one thing that should not be forgotten. Icardi is injured for the rest of the season. Besides him, there is Yunus, Barış, Gabriel, and Dries. Lucas is also here. We really have a strong squad. As for me, the goals or assists I make are not important. If I can't score, I assist. Or I fight for the team. I fight for everyone. All I want is for the team to win.
"THE CHAMPIONSHIP IS A PERSONAL MATTER FOR ME"
Victor Osimhen: As I said, we need to wait for the end of the season. I want to be a champion with Galatasaray. This will be important for them. They will win championships consecutively. But what matters to me is to be a champion with Galatasaray. If that happens, I will be the happiest person in the team. It will really be an unforgettable moment. I think there are things I need to prove to some people about this. I need to send a clear message to some people. This is a personal matter for me. That's why I have to give my all.
"WE CAN BE UNDEFEATED CHAMPIONS"
Victor Osimhen: The future is uncertain, but we are really proud. When you do good things, you should give yourself credit and appreciate it. We have really done great things this season. But we had some shortcomings in some matches. We should have won more. We should have finished some matches, but football is like that; sometimes unexpected things happen. Being undefeated in the league is a great achievement. It is a source of pride for us. Absolutely. I think, to be honest, we can continue this streak. We can go undefeated until the end of the season and become champions. I believe in that. Anything is possible.
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