Emmanuel Amunike lauds Victor Osimhen’s choice for Galatasaray stay

By Monsurah Olatunji

Former Nigeria international Emmanuel Amunike has praised Victor Osimhen for opting to remain at Galatasaray during the January transfer window.

Amunike played a pivotal role in Osimhen’s early development, guiding him to help Nigeria secure victory at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. Having witnessed Osimhen’s progress from a young age, Amunike was pleased to see his former protégé make a calculated decision to stay at Galatasaray.

Despite enjoying an outstanding season with Napoli the previous year, Osimhen’s transfer saga was far from over as a potential move to Chelsea fell through on transfer deadline day, leading him to join Galatasaray on a season-long loan in the summer.

His impressive performances in Turkey, however, kept him in the spotlight during the January transfer window, with clubs like PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United reportedly interested.

Despite having a clause in his loan agreement that would have allowed for a January exit, the 26-year-old opted to remain with Galatasaray until the end of the season. A decision that Amunike wholeheartedly supports.

In an interview with Africafoot, Amunike lauded Osimhen for his maturity in staying with the Turkish giants, stressing the positive impact of the fans’ warm reception in shaping his decision.

“I think he made the right decision to stay at Galatasaray during the winter transfer window and not rush into transfers, despite multiple interests,” Amunike said.

“He has been massively welcomed and appreciated in Turkey, and it is only important that he thanks them with gratitude.

?He was able to regain his full potential, and all of this is due to the fact that he was given a chance when he fell out of favor with the people of Naples.”

Osimhen’s decision to stay at Galatasaray marks a significant moment in his career as he continues to thrive in the Turkish Super League, with Amunike’s support further validating the wisdom behind the choice.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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