Victor Osimhen Explains Restrained Celebration After Champions League Goal Against Juventus
Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen clarified his decision not to celebrate his crucial goal against Juventus in the Champions League playoff round, attributing it to respect for his former coach Massimiliano Allegri and dissatisfaction with his team’s overall performance.
Respect for Allegri and Team Performance
Osimhen scored a vital goal during extra time in the second leg of the Champions League playoff against Juventus on February 25, 2026, effectively ending Juventus’ hopes of advancing to the Round of 16. However, he notably refrained from celebrating the goal with his teammates. Addressing the reason behind his subdued reaction, Osimhen explained his deep respect for Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri, who previously coached him at Napoli. He also expressed disappointment with Galatasaray’s performance throughout the match, despite securing the win.
“Why didn’t I celebrate? I didn’t demand to,” Osimhen stated in a post-match interview with Prime Video, as reported by JuveFC.com. “First of all, I respect Spalletti, whom I admire and who played an important role in my career. Secondly, we played poorly against our 10-man opponent. I’m not someone who hides his emotions.”
Previous Juventus Interest
The lack of celebration also sparked speculation regarding potential lingering feelings towards Juventus, who reportedly attempted to sign Osimhen in the summer of 2024 before he ultimately chose to join Galatasaray, coinciding with Romelu Lukaku’s arrival at Napoli CBS Sports.
Osimhen’s Commitment to Galatasaray
Despite the speculation, Osimhen emphatically denied any unhappiness at Galatasaray. “I have no problems with anyone! I am happy at Galatasaray. Most of the time I celebrate the goal. There are times when I do not celebrate, but there was a reason in the Juventus match. I have been very good with everyone at Galatasaray since the day I arrived. I love my club, my coach, our fans, my president,” he said Soccernet.ng.
Galatasaray Advances
Galatasaray ultimately defeated Juventus 3-2 in the second leg, securing their place in the Champions League Round of 16 after a 6-2 aggregate victory. Baris Yilmaz added a late goal to seal the win for the Turkish side.