Tottenham Hotspur will look to retain their perfect start in the Europa League this season when they travel to Istanbul on Thursday to play Galatasaray, captained by loan sensation Victor Osimhen.
The Nigerian joined the Turkish giants on loan in early September after being thrown out at Napoli, where former Tottenham manager Antonio Conte took over after the Italians failed to defend their Serie A championship successfully.
Osimhen was the star of Napoli’s run to the Scudetto in 2023 and was expected to be sold in the last transfer window, but no takers met his 130 million euro ($142m) release clause.
Instead, he agreed to a season-long loan move to Galatasaray, where, at the end of the term, the Turkish champions do not have the option to sign him permanently.
While his future remains uncertain for next year, the 25-year-old can only focus on enjoying a successful season in Turkey, away from the limelight of Europe’s biggest leagues.
Galatasaray failed to qualify for the Champions League after losing to Young Boys over two legs in August, leaving them to compete in the Europa League.
Osimhen has started in home victories against PAOK of Greece and Elfsborg of Sweden, missing an away draw with RFS of Latvia due to injury.
He has yet to score in European competition, with Galatasaray’s top scorer this season being Mauro Icardi, the former Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain striker, who has netted six times so far.
Next are Turkish internationals Yunus Akgun and Baris Yilmaz, both of whom have five goals for Okan Buruk’s side.
Osimhen has scored four goals, all coming in his last three domestic league appearances, including what proved to be the winner in a home derby against Besiktas on October 28.
The manner in which he celebrated that header—tearing off his trademark protective face mask and running towards the corner flag before punching the air in delight—suggested he is already fully invested in the Galatasaray cause.
