Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen, has pledged to remain committed to Galatasaray through good and difficult times, reflecting on his humble beginnings in Lagos, Nigeria, and the challenges he overcame before becoming one of Europe’s leading strikers.
“I’m ready to go through everything with Galatasaray; the good, the bad and the ugly – but hopefully, more good than bad,” Osimhen told UEFA’s official website in a recent interview.
The Nigerian international also recalled his arrival in Istanbul, Türkiye, where thousands of Galatasaray supporters gathered at the airport in the early hours to welcome him.
He said the reception left him amazed by the level of affection shown by the club’s fans.
“I arrived in Istanbul and I had never seen anything like that in my life. It was incredible to have so many people at the airport. Many were tracking flights, dealing with everything. I think it was two or three in the morning. Many were fathers, most were husbands, most were spouses. They needed to sleep with their families and rest at home, but they were out there alone,” he said.
Osimhen’s journey to the top of European football began in Olusosun, Lagos, where he grew up as the youngest of seven children in a financially disadvantaged family.
He lost his mother at a young age, while his father died in 2020.
“I come from a very poor family. I’m the youngest of 7 siblings. I lost my mother at a very young age, and my father also passed away in 2020,” the striker said.
He credited his childhood environment with teaching him important lessons that helped shape his character and career, noting that his experiences in Olusosun contributed to the person he has become.
“Olusosun (where he was born) was the place that made me the person I am today, and even though I don’t mention how much it gave, it gave me life lessons that helped me in my life journey,” he said.
Now playing for Galatasaray after joining the Turkish club permanently from Napoli, Osimhen is determined to help the team make a significant impact in the UEFA Champions League.
He said the club’s European ambitions were among the issues he discussed with its president upon his arrival.
“We really want to make a difference in the Champions League. In Türkiye, we want to show that we are a team that the whole world will recognize this year, because we have really achieved something great in Europe,” he said.
The 2023 African Footballer of the Year also acknowledged the influence of former Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba on his development, explaining that he studied the legendary forward’s playing style and conduct off the pitch.
“I saw Drogba’s playing style and I tried to make my game similar to his, to see how he played and how he lived outside of football. So I have to be grateful to that man because looking at where I am now, I think I owe some of my success to him,” Osimhen said.
