Victor Osimhen has turned down an offer by the management of Turkish champions Galatasaray for him to wear jersey No 9 now vacated by Mauro Icardi, who has left the club.
Turkish Sabah newspaper reported yesterday that Galatasaray executives presented Osimhen with a new jersey with his name and a new number of 9.
However, the striker said he would rather stick with the jersey No 45, which he has worn since his joined the Turkish giants.
He said that jersey has brought him luck.
“I expect that you will sell more jerseys, but I think you will understand me. Number 45 brought me luck at Galatasaray. I want to continue with the same jersey,” he told the club bosses.
Osimhen’s association with the number 45 goes back to the early stages of his career.
The Nigerian striker first wore the number 45 shirt at Belgian club Charleroi, where he scored 20 goals, marking his breakthrough in European football.
The star player, who later preferred the number 7 jersey at Lille and the Number 9 at Napoli, returned to the number 45 after transferring to Galatasaray.
The fresh jersey row appears to have put to rest all speculations about his potential move away from the Turkish giants this summer transfer window.
Galatasaray consider Osimhen as “untouchable”, while coach Okan Buruk has built his team for the new season around the striker.However, Osimhen has maintained that his future is with the 26-time Turkish champions. “Galatasaray is my family and I am very happy here. We have a very special bond. I’m not going anywhere. My only thought is to make our fans happy again…” he insisted