- Ümit Karan criticised Osimhen’s struggles with Hatayspor’s defensive line and his missed scoring opportunities
- Despite scoring his 14th goal this season, Osimhen struggled with missed chances and offside traps during the game
- Karan believes Osimhen’s finishing is not yet on par with Mauro Icardi’s prowess in front of goal
Former Galatasaray forward Ümit Karan has criticised Victor Osimhen's finishing abilities following the Nigerian striker's performance in Galatasaray’s 1-1 draw with Hatayspor.
Speaking in an interview, as reported by Habersarikirmizi, Karan compared Osimhen to Mauro Icardi, claiming the Super Eagles star is inferior in terms of finishing.
The match, held at the Mersin Stadium, saw Osimhen find the net from the penalty spot in the 56th minute. However, the forward struggled to replicate his usual dominance, missing several clear-cut chances and failing to beat Hatayspor’s defensive traps.
Karan, a 48-year-old former striker, acknowledged Osimhen’s athleticism and technical skills but criticised his inability to capitalise on scoring opportunities,
“Victor Osimhen is an athletic and technical footballer, but he showed that he is behind Icardi in terms of finishing. He missed many clear goals. He could not get out of the offside trap,” Karan stated.
Osimhen had six shots in the match, two of which were on target. Despite his goal, the Nigerian international fell short of expectations, leading to frustration among fans and pundits.
Currently, Osimhen has 11 league goals, trailing behind Krzysztof Piątek and Simon Banza on the Turkish Super Lig scoring chart, with 13 and 12 goals, respectively.
Reflecting on the match, Osimhen admitted Galatasaray’s performance in the first half lacked intensity. In his post-match comments to the club’s official website, he said,
“There was a bit of a lack of intensity in the first half. We let the opponent play a bit. Then, with the speech of our coach, we started the second half very well.”
The 24-year-old striker emphasised the importance of focus and efficiency in future games,
“We missed many opportunities. We will try to do better by learning from our mistakes,” he added.
Despite the criticism from former Galatasaray forward, Osimhen remains a vital figure for Galatasaray. He has registered 14 goals and six assists across all competitions this season, proving his value to Okan Buruk’s side.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Osimhen to bounce back and silence his critics with consistent performances and improved finishing.
“Don't do it,” Galatasaray assistant manager sends message to board on Osimhen’s transfer
Previously, TheRadar reported that Galatasaray’s acquisition of Super Eagles forward Osimhen in early September was a surprise move, one that saw the Nigerian star sign on loan just days after the European transfer window closed, although linked with several Premier League clubs and even a rumoured lucrative Saudi offer, Osimhen found a new home in Istanbul.
However, Galatasaray Assistant Manager Ismael Garcia Gomez has sounded a cautionary note about Victor Osimhen’s future with the club, casting doubt on Galatasaray’s potential financial pursuit of a permanent deal for the striker.
