Jose Mourinho aims dig at Victor Osimhen after shock Galatasaray move

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Evening Standard

·12 September 2024

Jose Mourinho aims dig at Victor Osimhen after shock Galatasaray move

Nigeria international came up against ex-Blues boss in Italy

The self-proclaimed “Special One” is now in charge of Gala’s eternal rivals Fenerbahce and will attempt to wrestle the Turkish Super Lig title from the champions this season.

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Osimhen represents a statement signing for a Turkish club, having signed a surprise loan deal after asking to leave Napoli.

It was a surprising end to a transfer saga to have dragged on over the course of the summer window. The Nigeria international handed in a transfer request but could not find a permanent move away despite interest from Chelsea and Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli.

Antonio Conte confirmed the former Lille forward would not be brought back into the fold at Napoli and after a move to Stamford Bridge broke down, Gala swooped in.

Mourinho came up against the striker during his time in charge of Roma and was full of praise for Osimhen when speaking to HT Spor.

Victor Osimhen arrived in Istanbul to huge fanfare

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“He is a player that if I was in a club with the potential to pay 70 to 75 million, I would buy. He’s a fantastic player,” he said.

“Of course, he comes in different circumstances but in the end the circumstances don’t matter.

“What matters is Galatasaray got an absolutely fantastic player.”

The Portuguese did, however, add that he believes Osimhen dives too much.

“I don’t have problems with Victor. In fact, we have a very good relationship,” added Mourinho.

“But every time I play against him I speak with him because I don’t like the way he behaves, he dives too much. The last time we played, Roma against Napoli, we had this conversation.

“I told him, “Look, you are one of the two best African players – it’s you and [Mohamed] Salah. In the past Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, George Weah, you cannot behave like this.

“He dives too much, that’s my problem with him. But after ten minutes, we are fine. We have a very good relationship.

“For the Turkish league it is fantastic and for Galatasaray it is fantastic too.”

Mourinho will come up against Osimhen again when his side host their eternal rivals on Saturday 21 September.