Turkey: Why Osimhen can’t be good captain for Galatasaray – Timurlenk

Turkish sports pundit, Bülent Timurlenk has said that Victor Osimhen’s temperament renders him unsuitable for the captaincy of Galatasaray, despite recognizing that the Nigerian international merits the honour based on his performances.

The Turkish champions are preparing to appoint a new captain for the upcoming season following the exit of Argentine striker, Mauro Icardi, with Osimhen being one of the top candidates for the position.

Turkiye international centre-back, Abdülkerim Bardakcı is also in the running to don the armband, having served as captain for Galatasaray on multiple occasions last season.

Manager, Okan Buruk has recently acknowledged that Osimhen possesses the leadership qualities necessary to help fill the gap left by Icardi.

While Timurlenk commended Osimhen’s dedication and impact on the team, he emphasized that the striker’s emotional responses during matches remain a significant concern.

“Although Osimhen undoubtedly deserves the captaincy, his body language and difficulty in managing his anger in interactions with referees, opponents, and occasionally teammates, pose challenges to his suitability as a captain,” Timurlenk stated to Sabah.

“Osimhen competes professionally but with an amateur mindset. The technical staff will likely wish to honor him with the captaincy, yet the practical reality on the pitch is that Abdülkerim is Galatasaray’s primary captain.”

On the international stage, Osimhen has captained the Super Eagles in two of their last four competitive matches, leading the team against Uganda and Morocco during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The former African Footballer of the Year did not take part in Galatasaray’s initial pre-season friendly on Friday, as the Istanbul club convincingly defeated Ümraniyespor 5-1 at Ümraniye City Stadium.

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