Juventus director Giorgio Chiellini has lauded Victor Osimhen’s qualities ahead of the Champions League knockout play-off tie between the Italian giants and Galatasaray, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Speaking after the draw, Chiellini described Osimhen as a “strong player” with “natural hunger” and praised his attacking instincts, but insisted Juventus were never close to signing the Super Eagles striker from Napoli.
“It’s a strong team with great players. We’ll play the second leg at home, so it won’t end in Istanbul, but we’ll have to be good at going to that stadium, play our game, exploit their weaknesses, and limit the big potential and individual players, not just in attack,” Chiellini said.
When asked if he would have liked to face Osimhen on the pitch, the former Italy defender smiled: “Right now, I couldn’t cope. But I would love to mark him for 45 minutes. I was unlucky to face him once late in my career when my physical qualities were limited, and I had to rely more on the mental aspect.”
Chiellini also praised Turkish football’s growth and the challenge posed by Galatasaray, stressing that Juventus must respect the quality of the opposition while executing their own game plan. Reflecting on Osimhen’s transfer history, he added, “If you mean that a club likes Osimhen, I think it’s true for all the teams, especially in Italy. But realistically, there’s never been anything more than this.”
The Italian legend recalled Juventus’ own Champions League clash against Galatasaray in 2013 and emphasized that details and discipline would be key in the upcoming knockout tie.
The stage is now set for a compelling encounter, with fans eager to see Osimhen tested against one of Europe’s most experienced defenders and Juventus aiming to assert their quality in Istanbul before returning for the home leg.
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