By Saheed Afolabi
Former Galatasaray striker Burak Yılmaz has called for the protection of Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen in the Turkish Super Lig.
Osimhen, who joined the club on loan during the summer, has made a significant impact, scoring six goals and providing three assists in just eight appearances.
Yılmaz praised Osimhen’s remarkable qualities, including his work rate and athleticism, which have made the Nigerian striker one of Europe’s top talents.
“If you ask any Galatasaray fan, the Europa League doesn’t excite them,” Yılmaz said, speaking to TRT Spor.
“Galatasaray is a Champions League team, and that is what sets them apart.”
He continued: “Victor Osimhen is a top-tier player, boasting incredible athleticism and physicality. He is one of the best center forwards in Europe, among the top 5-6 in the world.”
The former Kayserispor manager also pointed out that numerous top clubs are keen on securing Osimhen’s services.
He emphasized that the striker’s abilities place him above the Turkish League, urging that Osimhen should be safeguarded.
“There are many elite clubs closely monitoring Osimhen,” Yılmaz added.
“He is a player who is above the level of the Turkish League in terms of physical attributes, and he should not be subjected to any harm.”
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.
