Victor Osimhen, known for his impressive speed and physicality, has been a key player for Galatasaray this season. However, despite his numerous contributions, recent performances have drawn attention to a recurring flaw in his game: his tendency to fall into offside traps. While Osimhen’s pace remains one of his strongest attributes, it has also been pointed out as a factor contributing to his offside issues.
Mustafa Denizli, a former Galatasaray coach and current commentator for HT Spor, recently offered his analysis of Osimhen’s performance, particularly his struggles with timing and positioning. Denizli explained, “Osimhen does not make timing mistakes, he makes perimeter control mistakes.” He acknowledged Osimhen’s exceptional speed and strength but suggested that his eagerness to capitalize on scoring opportunities sometimes undermines his ability to maintain proper positioning. “He can even close 1-2 meters quickly, but in these situations, he feels the need to score as soon as possible, which weakens his control,” Denizli said.
The veteran coach further emphasized that this lack of control often leads to Osimhen being caught offside, a problem that has plagued the striker in several matches. “Osimhen may have such a problem. He falls offside a lot,” Denizli concluded. While this aspect of Osimhen’s game has been under scrutiny, there is still optimism that the 26-year-old can work on this issue and refine his positioning moving forward.
Despite his struggles, Osimhen remains an integral part of Galatasaray’s attacking force. However, his offside problems have been particularly evident this season in the Turkish Super Lig. In just fourteen matches, Osimhen has been flagged offside twenty times, placing him third in the league behind Marius Mouandilmadji of Samsunspor (27) and Mame Thiam of Eyüpspor (21). Moreover, six of his goals for Galatasaray have been disallowed due to offside calls, a statistic that highlights the impact of this issue.
With the season still underway, both fans and analysts are hopeful that Osimhen can address his offside struggles and regain the clinical edge that made him such a feared forward. As he continues to adapt to Galatasaray’s style of play, it remains to be seen whether the Nigerian striker can fine-tune his game and maintain his place as one of the league’s top talents.
