I WOULD HAVE MADE IT EVEN WITHOUT FOOTBALL, SAYS OSIMHEN

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By ‘Sefiu Ajape

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has said his belief in himself is so strong that he would have achieved financial success even if football had not been his path, recalling how he woke as early as 3am to hustle during his early struggles.

The forward also described Turkish club Galatasaray as more than just a football team, saying he felt an instant connection upon arriving on loan and noting that even his daughter has grown deeply attached to the club.

Osimhen made the remarks during a Twitch livestream with comedian Carter Efe in the early hours of Saturday. He is currently in Nigeria recovering from a broken arm sustained in Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League clash against Liverpool.

“I get that belief in myself, even when I was in the trenches when it was tough. The way we had to hustle.

“There’s no legit work that you’ll call me for that you won’t meet me there around five in the morning or four or three. Wake me up, I go hustle,” he said.

He explained that the mindset shaped during his difficult upbringing convinced him that success was inevitable, regardless of the path he chose.

“Even if not through football, I will have money like mad. That’s the way I believe. That’s the way I believe in myself,” he added.

Speaking on his bond with Galatasaray, Osimhen said his move to the Istanbul-based club came during a challenging period in his career, but the reception he received stood out.

“Gala is more than a club for me. We’re meant to cross paths, me and that club.

“When you enter that club, you realise and see the way that it treats players, the way they give their sweat for the badge. From other experiences, you see they deprive players of real love,” he said.

He noted that the affection extended beyond the team to its global supporters, with his family also embracing the club.

“Even my daughter, they’re more inclined to that club than me,” he said.

Osimhen added that such treatment is rare in football, stressing that many players go years without experiencing that level of support.

“Some players will go like 10 years of their career, 20 years, they will not get that kind of love,” he said.