Mourinho on Osimhen’s habits. African footballers. Former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has praised Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen but pointed out a behaviour he dislikes after Osimhen joined Galatasaray on loan.
Osimhen moved to the Turkish club after failed attempts to leave Napoli due to issues with personal terms and transfer fees. Mourinho, now managing Fenerbahce after leaving AS Roma, is set to earn €10.5 million a year as he aims to lead the club to its first title in a decade, according to ESPN.
Mourinho called Osimhen a fantastic player and said, “If I was at a club that could pay €70-75 million, I’d buy him. Galatasaray got an amazing player.”
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However, he highlighted a concern about Osimhen’s on-field conduct, saying, “I don’t have problems with Victor; we have a great relationship. But when I play against him, I talk to him because he dives too much.”
He recalled a conversation during a Roma vs. Napoli match: “I told him, ‘You and Salah are the best African players… you can’t behave like this.’ But after 10 minutes, we’re good again.”
Last season, Galatasaray won the league and cup double, edging out Fenerbahce by three points. Rumors suggest Osimhen could leave Galatasaray in January if a top European club makes an offer, as he reportedly has a break clause in his loan deal.
More about Victor Osimhen
Victor James Osimhen is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Napoli and the Nigeria national team. Born on December 29, 1998, in Lagos, Nigeria, Osimhen is widely regarded as one of the best African forwards in modern football.
Osimhen began his senior career in 2017 with VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga. After a loan spell at Charleroi in Belgium, he joined Lille in France, where he had a breakout season, scoring 18 goals in all competitions. In 2020, he made a record-breaking €70 million move to Napoli, making him the most expensive African footballer at the time.
Read also: Victor Osimhen agrees to surprise Galatasaray loan deal
Known for his pace, strength, and clinical finishing, Osimhen became a key figure at Napoli, helping the club win their first Serie A title in 33 years during the 2022–23 season. He was the league’s top scorer that season, with 26 goals, and also became the highest-scoring African player in Serie A history.
On the international stage, Osimhen has represented Nigeria since his youth, winning the Golden Boot at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He made his senior debut in 2017 and has since become one of Nigeria’s most important players, participating in multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
His individual accolades include being named African Footballer of the Year in 2023 and finishing eighth in the Ballon d’Or voting the same year.