Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has likened the passion of Nigerian fans to that of Turkish supporters, citing the intense criticism players receive from both fan bases.
Osimhen was speaking during a “Here or There” segment on Bleacher Report Football, where he was asked to compare various aspects of life in Nigeria and Turkey.
After revealing his preference for Nigerian food, the Super Eagles striker was asked about the fans, and he did not hesitate to draw parallels between both countries.
“I think the fans are the same because the criticism is so high in my country and in Turkey. Football is huge for them, but the only difference is that in Nigeria, people support the big Premier League clubs, while in Turkey they support just one club,” he said.
Osimhen first arrived in Turkey in the summer of 2024, joining Galatasaray on loan from Napoli.
His impact at the club was immediate, as he quickly became a fan favourite in Istanbul and beyond, spearheading the club’s domestic dominance. In his debut season, he scored 37 goals and provided seven assists across all competitions, leading Galatasaray to both the Süper Lig and Turkish Cup titles.
The 27-year-old’s move was later made permanent in a record-breaking €75m deal.
His signing became the most expensive transfer in Turkish football history, surpassing the previous Süper Lig transfer record of €19.5m, set by Fenerbahçe’s signing of Youssef En-Nesyri in 2024.
Despite dealing with injuries this season, the Nigerian international has maintained a high level of performance, recording seven goals in 11 league appearances.
While he has rarely put a foot wrong in the eyes of Galatasaray fans, Osimhen has often come under scrutiny from Nigerian supporters, particularly over some off-the-ball situations.
Regardless, the Lagos-born striker has continued to live up to expectations as one of the brightest products of Nigerian football, rising from the U-17 World Cup-winning team in 2015 to become a mainstay in the national team.
At the 2015 tournament in Chile, Osimhen set a record with 10 goals — a feat that still stands. He has now scored 35 goals in 52 appearances for Nigeria, just two shy of the late Rashidi Yekini’s record of 37 goals in 62 matches.
