Super Eagles’ star, Victor Osimhen may have turned down the chance to become Galatasaray’s permanent captain ahead of the 2026/27 season, according to Turkish journalist Savaş Çorlu, speaking on A Spor, despite being widely tipped to inherit the armband from the departed Mauro Icardi.
Osimhen, who served as vice-captain last season, had been the clear favourite for the role after Icardi left the club when his contract expired. Head coach Okan Buruk and the club’s hierarchy were said to back the appointment, which would have made Osimhen the first African player to captain Galatasaray on a permanent basis.
Instead, the striker has stepped back from the responsibility — a decision pundit Bülent Timurlenk had pre-empted weeks earlier, questioning whether Osimhen’s on-field temperament suited the role even while praising his performances and dedication.
The development follows a pattern.
During Galatasaray’s pre-season friendly against Rennes on Sunday’s night, which ended 3-3, Osimhen scored the opener but turned down the captain’s armband when it was offered to him mid-match, handing it instead to teammate Yunus Akgun. He did the same in March, deferring to İlkay Gündoğan after explaining it felt wrong to lead ahead of a more experienced teammate.
The captaincy call comes as speculation over Osimhen’s long-term future refuses to die down, with Tottenham Hotspur among the clubs to have made an approach for the striker this summer.
The English Premier League side have opened talks with Galatasaray over a summer move for the 27-year-old striker, tabling an initial offer in the £50–55 million range.
But Galatasaray reportedly are holding out for a fee closer to £65 million, leaving Spurs’ opening proposal short of the champions’ valuation with the domestic window running until 1 September. Manchester United and Chelsea are also monitoring the situation, with Chelsea’s interest long-standing and United reportedly weighing a move amid uncertainty over Joshua Zirkzee’s future.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
