VICTOR OSIMHEN TELLS ALL: STRIKER REVEALS SPALLETTI "FATHER FIGURE" BOND IN NEW PLAYER’S TRIBUNE ESSAY
Victor Osimhen reveals his raw journey! Discover why he chose Galatasaray and how Spalletti saved his career at Napoli.
Victor Osimhen, now playing for Galatasaray, opened up about his life and football journey in a piece for The Player’s Tribune. He talked about how Luciano Spalletti became “like a father” to him during his early days at Napoli, right after he left Lille, a really tough period in his life.
In his story, “A Prayer From the Gutter,” he goes all the way back to his childhood in Nigeria. He played barefoot in the streets, hustled to help support his family, and faced a crushing rejection before finally catching his big break. It’s a raw, emotional read, and you can tell how much his time in Naples meant to him.
Osimhen described how, while he was at Lille, transfer talks kept him from going home to be with his dying father at the start of the COVID pandemic. That experience nearly made him quit football for good. “I was so disgusted by how the club ran things,” he said, “I actually thought about never playing football again.”
“When I left Lille, I was lost,” Osimhen admitted. “When I came to Napoli, I was found. I owe everything to the city, the fans, and my teammates. They turned my life around.”
He remembers sitting down with Spalletti right after arriving. “I told him, ‘I am not well. I am very angry right now. Very sad. My head is not straight.’” Spalletti didn’t just listen; he pushed Osimhen hard. “He was like a father to me. If I messed up, he’d let me know. But he believed in me, deep down. He thought I could be the best in the world.”
The work ethic at Napoli was intense. Osimhen describes it almost like military life. “We couldn’t even complain,” he said, “because Spalletti was there all the time. The man actually slept in his office for five months. He had a wife at home, but he stayed with us, even sleeping on a little army cot.”
And before big games, Spalletti would remind the players just what was at stake. “He’d say, ‘If you win the title, people will talk about me for a few years. But you? They’ll remember you until you’re old men.’”
Looking back, Osimhen sums up his Napoli experience in a single line: “Winning any title is special. But winning a Scudetto for Napoli after 33 years? That’s real history. That’s why I choose the teams I choose.”
So why leave Napoli, and why pick Galatasaray? Osimhen hears the question all the time. “So many people told me not to go to Turkey. They called me crazy. Even a former agent said, ‘Don’t do it. It’s not smart.’ But I follow my heart. After the emotion of Napoli, I couldn’t just pick any club. That would be boring. I wanted a club with top-level passion. Galatasaray fits that. These are people who live and breathe football, just like I do.”
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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