Super Eagles and Galatasaray goal king, Victor Osimhen has been informed that Fenerbahçe may be behind his recent troubles in Istanbul.
The Nigerian forward has reacted strongly to reports suggesting Fenerbahçe’s involvement in the controversy surrounding an alleged physical altercation with journalist Tolga Bozduman.
Osimhen has vehemently denied claims that he punched Bozduman after a night out, instead vowing to pursue legal action against those responsible for the accusations.
The incident caused a stir in Turkey when Bozduman accused Osimhen of assaulting him outside a nightclub after a 3-3 draw with Dinamo Kyiv.
Bozduman alleged that Osimhen became angry after the journalist took photographs and tried to grab his camera before striking him in the head.
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He also claimed Osimhen offered money to delete the photos and threatened to “ruin” him if they were published.
Osimhen has firmly rejected the allegations, insisting that he was at an African restaurant with friends, including fellow Nigerian international Kenneth Omeruo, when the incident occurred.
Photo by imago
The striker explained that a group of paparazzi unexpectedly appeared and began taking photos without permission. Osimhen said he was taken aback by the intrusion and politely asked for the photos to be deleted.
“I was never at a nightclub,” Osimhen told Turkish journalist Enes Cevahirci.
“I went to an African restaurant for dinner. Afterward, as we were admiring my friend’s new car, these guys just showed up with a camera in my face.
“I asked, ‘What is the problem?’ but they didn’t respond, they kept taking pictures.”
Osimhen added that his friends intervened and asked the journalists to act professionally, and he reiterated his request for the photos to be deleted, emphasizing his right to do so.
“I never punched this guy,” he said. “I simply told him to take down the picture. It’s my image, and I have every right to ask him to remove it.”
Some insiders within Galatasaray have suggested that Fenerbahçe, specifically Acun Ilıcalı, the club’s Vice President and media mogul, may be behind efforts to destabilize Osimhen.
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Ilıcalı, who also owns Hull City and NK Maribor, is believed to have hired individuals to monitor Osimhen and exploit any vulnerabilities.
A Galatasaray source explained to Fotospor: “A manager of our rival club (Acun Ilıcalı) is a media mogul. He may be hiring people just to follow you and find your weaknesses. Their goal is to make you unhappy and uncomfortable.”
Upon learning of Fenerbahçe’s potential involvement, Osimhen expressed his determination to stay focused and unaffected by the off-field drama.
“I’m sure this was done to me intentionally. It could have happened in Italy too. But they just tried to get into my car. The Turkish journalists harassed me. I’ve never seen anything like it, which is why I’ll be suing.”
He further added that Fenerbahçe’s efforts to unsettle him have only made him more determined.
“I’d like to thank them,” he said. “They’ve made me concentrate even more.”
Despite the pressure, Osimhen remains focused on his performances at Galatasaray, where he has been in exceptional form, scoring 16 goals and providing five assists.
He has been a key player in helping the club maintain a six-point lead at the top of the Süper Lig, ahead of their bitter rivals Fenerbahçe.
