Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has stirred controversy by accusing Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen of frequently diving. This criticism follows Osimhen’s recent transfer to Fenerbahce’s rivals, Galatasaray, on a season-long loan from Napoli.
Osimhen’s move intensifies the already fierce rivalry between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, as both teams vie for the Turkish Super Lig title. With Osimhen spearheading Galatasaray’s attack, tensions between the two clubs are expected to escalate.
Mourinho, who took over as Fenerbahce’s head coach in June after leaving AS Roma, is well-acquainted with Osimhen’s playing style from their Serie A encounters. During his tenure at Roma, Mourinho’s team faced Napoli multiple times, giving him a close view of Osimhen’s tactics.
In a recent viral video, Mourinho compared Osimhen to Mohamed Salah, placing them on the same level in terms of talent. However, he also expressed his dissatisfaction with Osimhen’s tendency to dive.
Mourinho stated, “The last time we played against him during Roma vs Napoli, I had this conversation with him. I told Osimhen, ‘You are one of the best players in Africa along with Salah. Before, there were Drogba, Eto’o, and Weah. You can’t be diving.’”
He added, “He dives too much, and that’s my problem with him, but after 10 minutes, we are fine.”