Former Beşiktaş midfielder reveals Icardi’s absence is responsible for Osimhen’s profilgacy in front of goal

Former Beşiktaş and Turkïye midfielder, Sinan Engin, has revealed the reason Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has been struggling in front of Galatasaray during recent spells, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 25-year-old has been brilliant for the CimBom Aslan since joining on loan from Napoli in September, scoring nine goals and providing four assists in twelve games across all competitions.

However, he's struggled in recent games for Okan Buruk's side, not because he's not been scoring, but because he's been missing a bucketload of clear-cut chances. In Galatasaray's 2-2 draw against Eyüpspor, Osimhen had just one shot on target from six attempts.

The Napoli loanee started life in Turkïye by playing alongside Mauro Icardi in Galatasaray's attack, but a cruciate knee ligament damage to the Argentine has seen Okan Buruk reshuffle his team's setup, and Engin revealed that has affected Osimhen's game.

“Mauro Icardi is a real striker. If Icardi is there, Victor Osimen will be comfortable.

Victor Osimhen and Dries Mertens duo are slow and ponderous. What Galatasaray players will do is simple, they will go down to the side and pass the ball to Victor Osimhen, but they cannot always do that,” the 60-year-old said in quotes revealed by Haber Sari Kirmizi.

Despite Icardi's absence and Galatasaray's slight dip in form, the club are in a good place on all fronts. They're currently top of the Turkish Super Lïg, three points above José Mourinho's Fernabahce.