Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen has revealed why he turned down the chance to wear Galatasaray’s iconic No. 9 shirt, opting instead to retain the No. 45 jersey ahead of the new season.
The Nigerian international, who completed a permanent move to the Turkish champions after a hugely successful loan spell, said he chose to keep the number that has become closely associated with his journey at the club.
Since arriving at Galatasaray, Osimhen has established himself as one of the team’s standout performers, playing a pivotal role in the club’s success with a string of impressive displays.
His goalscoring exploits and consistent performances have made him a fan favourite and cemented his status as one of the most influential players at Rams Park.
The Nigerian forward was widely expected to take over Galatasaray’s number nine shirt, a jersey associated with top attacking players and previously linked with Mauro Icardi. However, Osimhen decided to remain with the number 45, which he has worn since arriving at the club.
Explaining his decision, Osimhen said the number has brought him good fortune and that he prefers to continue with the shirt that has served him well.
According to Sabah Spor, a Turkish sports news platform on its X handle on Thursday, Osimhen was quoted as saying, “I believe you will sell more shirts, but I think you will understand my perspective. The number 45 has been lucky for me at Galatasaray,” Osimhen said, according to Sabah Spor.
“I want to continue with the same number,” he added.
Since his permanent transfer from Napoli, Osimhen has established himself as a fan favourite, delivering important goals and strong performances for the Yellow-Reds.
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