Galatasaray’s star striker, Victor Osimhen, delivered a heartfelt tribute to his injured teammate, Mauro Icardi, after opening the scoring in the club’s 3-2 victory over Samsunspor in a high-stakes Turkish Süper Lig clash at RAMS Park. Osimhen’s emotional gesture not only marked an important goal in a title decider but also demonstrated the strong bond between the two forwards.
In the 3rd minute of the match, Osimhen gave Galatasaray the lead with a clinical finish, sending the home fans into raptures. But it was his post-goal celebration that captured the hearts of many. After scoring, Osimhen removed Icardi’s No. 9 jersey and held it aloft to the stands in a touching display of solidarity with his teammate, who is sidelined for the remainder of the season due to an ACL injury. As Osimhen lifted the shirt, the stadium resonated with the sound of the popular Turkish song, “Aşkın Olayım”, creating a poignant atmosphere.
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Icardi, who was watching from the stands, responded to the tribute with a smile, standing and clapping in appreciation of the gesture. The pair’s bond was further highlighted when Osimhen replicated Icardi’s signature goal celebration – a tribute that left both players visibly moved. Icardi responded with a kiss and a wave to Osimhen, who had taken the spotlight in his absence.
After the game, Osimhen spoke about the special moment: “My brother, what else can we do but love this team and be proud of it?”
Despite Osimhen’s early heroics, the match was far from over. Samsunspor fought back with determination, equalizing in the 50th minute through a penalty by Olivier Ntcham. However, Osimhen wasn’t done yet. Just 5 minutes later, in the 55th minute, he struck again, restoring Galatasaray’s lead and putting his team firmly in control of the match.
With Michy Batshuayi adding a third goal in the 85th minute, it seemed Galatasaray had secured a comfortable victory. But Samsunspor refused to go down without a fight, and in the dying moments of the match, Youssef Aït Bennasser pulled one back for the visitors in the 93rd minute to make it 3-2. Despite the late scare, Galatasaray held on for all three points.
The win was crucial for Galatasaray as they maintained their position at the top of the Turkish Süper Lig standings with 31 points from 11 games. Fenerbahçe, under the management of José Mourinho, moved up to second place with 26 points, displacing Samsunspor (who are now in third with 25 points) after the defeat.
Galatasaray’s title hopes remain strong as they look to extend their lead in the coming weeks, with Osimhen’s form and team spirit playing a crucial role in their success. As for Mauro Icardi, the road to recovery may be long, but with teammates like Osimhen, his return to the pitch seems even more meaningful.
