Osimhen will do anything to win – Batrakov

File photo: Victor Osimhen

Galatasaray midfielder Aleksey Batrakov has described Victor Osimhen as a perfectionist who will do anything to win, praising the Nigerian striker for his com                petitive spirit and willingness to celebrate his teammates’ achievements, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Batrakov recalled his first training session with the Turkish champions, when Osimhen demonstrated his determination to win during a mini-tournament among the players.

“Osimhen is a perfectionist. Top-notch in every sense. It was my first training session; we held a mini tournament among ourselves, and that’s where I understood what kind of perfectionist he is, how he always wants to win,” Batrakov said, as quoted by Forza Cimbom.

The Russian midfielder added that Osimhen’s gesture during the subsequent penalty shootout left a lasting impression on him.

“He will do anything to win. The match ended 2-2 and went to penalties. Osimhen gave me the final penalty; he said, ‘you take it.’ I scored, and he came running to me from the other end of the field to join in my celebration. It was an incredible gesture,” he said.

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Batrakov’s comments come after Osimhen recently responded to criticism over his performances following his return from a groin injury, insisting that he remained confident in his abilities and was not afraid of challenges.

The Super Eagles striker ended his Champions League goal drought with a strike in Galatasaray’s 4-2 victory away to Lille on October 21, taking his tally in European competitions for the club to 14.

Osimhen had faced criticism from Turkish media and pundits after going three matches without scoring against Kasımpaşa, Barcelona and Gençlerbirliği. However, he dismissed suggestions that the scrutiny had affected him, insisting that nobody could dictate how he played.

The 27-year-old also emphasised that Galatasaray’s collective success mattered more than individual recognition, saying the club was bigger than any player.

Osimhen and Batrakov will now hope to help Galatasaray secure victory when they face rivals Fenerbahçe in the Turkish Süper Lig on Monday.