Victor Osimhen’s two-goal performance in the Istanbul derby put Galatasaray back on top of the Turkish Süper Lig, but the Nigerian striker’s display has since attracted attention for reasons beyond his finishing.
The 2–1 victory over Fenerbahce at Rams Park was a significant result for Galatasaray, with Osimhen scoring twice before Irfan Kahveci’s spectacular second half strike gave the visitors hope of rescuing a point.
Yet the reaction from the opposing camp has shifted the conversation away from the goals and towards the striker’s conduct during the fiercely contested encounter.
Former Fenerbahce head coach İsmail Kartal, who parted ways with the club following the defeat, has now delivered a pointed assessment of the Super Eagles forward.
Kartal acknowledged Osimhen’s quality as a striker but questioned whether his behavior matched the standards expected of a player of his standing.
“Victor Osimhen is a very good player, energetic and a very good striker, but he lacks character. A player of his level is supposed to be a role model for younger ones. He scored twice and started disrespecting Fenerbahce fans and our players.
“That’s unsportsmanlike behaviour and should never be encouraged. The opposition is filled with emotions, and acting like that towards them is insensitive,” Kartal said.
His remarks focus on what he viewed as disrespect towards Fenerbahce’s supporters and players after Osimhen found the net twice in the derby.
The criticism adds another layer to a rivalry already charged with emotion, following a result that strengthened Galatasaray’s position while leaving Fenerbahce to reflect on a damaging defeat.
A derby display that made history
Osimhen’s impact on the fixture extended beyond the controversy surrounding his conduct.
The Nigerian opened the scoring in the 29th minute before doubling Galatasaray’s advantage shortly before half time. Kahveci’s scissor-kick finish in the 62nd minute reduced the deficit, but Galatasaray held on to claim all three points.
The victory also extended Galatasaray’s unbeaten run against Fenerbahce in the Süper Lig to five consecutive meetings.
Osimhen has now scored five goals against Fenerbahce, making him the leading scorer in the fixture over the past 15 years, according to the supplied report.
His contribution to Galatasaray has also been substantial across competitions. The report credits the striker with earning 47 points for the club in league and European matches over two and a half years.
Those figures underline the importance of his goals to Galatasaray, even as Kartal’s comments have placed his behaviour under scrutiny.
READ MORE: Victor Osimhen sacks Fenerbahce manager
The criticism follows a turbulent period for Kartal, whose departure from Fenerbahce was confirmed on October 27, a day after the derby defeat.
The coach had previously announced his resignation in September following a 1–1 draw against AS Roma in the Champions League league phase, only for club president Aziz Yildirim to publicly reject the decision and insist that he remain in charge.
This time, however, Fenerbahce confirmed that Kartal had communicated his decision to leave and that both parties had agreed to part ways after discussions.
His latest comments about Osimhen have brought renewed attention to the aftermath of the derby, with the former coach challenging the conduct of the player who proved decisive in his side’s defeat.
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