Victor Osimhen 45 and Ilkay Gundogan 20 of Galatasaray. Photo by: ImagoxSeskimphoto
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen earned praise for a respectful gesture toward teammate İlkay Gündoğan during Galatasaray’s 3-1 victory over Alanyaspor on Saturday, Soccernet.ng reports.
While the Nigerian forward was the star of the match—securing a goal and an assist to earn his side the maximum three points—it was a moment of leadership off the ball that caught the eyes of fans.
In the absence of regular captain Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Lucas Torreira led the Cimbom out as skipper.
Following a brilliant 79-minute shift, Torreira was substituted for Gündoğan. As the Uruguayan midfielder departed the pitch, he handed the captain’s armband to Gündoğan with instructions to pass it to Osimhen.
However, in a show of profound respect, the 27-year-old marksman refused to take the mantle. Instead, as Gündoğan approached him, Osimhen took the armband and fastened it onto the former Manchester City man’s arm himself.
”He is a Visionary” — Victor Osimhen on Gündoğan’s Influence
When asked after the match why he deferred the captaincy to the 35-year-old midfielder, Osimhen explained that his decision was rooted in the veteran’s immense impact on the squad.
”İlkay is someone I have a lot of respect for; I value him greatly,” Osimhen said.
“I respected him even before we were teammates. He is a wonderful person and a great example in the dressing room. He motivates us—he is a visionary.
”When he tried to pass the captain’s armband to me, I felt it was only right to give it back to him. I want him to lead us. He has already done so for several matches and has helped us tremendously. He is someone I value at the highest level, and I want him to continue leading this team.”
Gündoğan, widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders of his generation, arrived in Turkey with a legendary resume, including a UEFA Champions League title and multiple Premier League trophies from his time at Manchester City.
While he may be in the twilight of his career, he remains a vital cog in the Galatasaray machine—a sentiment clearly shared by the Super Eagles’ star striker.