Turkish sports commentator Bülent Timurlenk has declared that Victor Osimhen’s fiery temperament and poor anger management disqualify him from becoming Galatasaray’s next captain, even as he acknowledged the Nigerian striker’s exceptional performances merit the honor.
The Super Eagles forward is among the leading contenders to replace Mauro Icardi as skipper for the upcoming season, alongside Turkey international defender Abdülkerim Bardakcı, who wore the armband multiple times last campaign.
Speaking to Sabah, Timurlenk praised Osimhen’s dedication and on-field impact but cited serious concerns about the 26-year-old’s emotional volatility during matches.
“Although Osimhen undoubtedly deserves the captaincy, his body language and difficulty in managing his anger in interactions with referees, opponents, and occasionally teammates, pose challenges to his suitability as a captain,” Timurlenk said.
The pundit further characterised Osimhen’s approach as “competing professionally but with an amateur mindset,” predicting that manager Okan Buruk’s technical staff would favor Bardakcı as the practical choice despite wanting to honor the former African Footballer of the Year.
Osimhen has captained Nigeria in two of their last four competitive fixtures, including matches against Uganda and Morocco during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The striker was absent from Galatasaray’s 5-1 friendly victory over Ümraniyespor on Friday, as the Istanbul club began their pre-season preparations without their star forward.
