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INT
AFCON 2025
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Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk is excited about the two-striker partnership of Victor Osimhen and Mauro Icardi.
Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk is excited about the combination between Victor Osimhen and Mauro Icardi, expressing confidence in both players’ ability to thrive together.
Icardi led Cim-Bom to Super Lig title success in the 2023/24 campaign, before the arrival of superstar signing Victor Osimhen. While the Nigerian was the bigger profile, Buruk did not intend to relegate Icardi; instead, he plotted to play both players in a front two.
However, a season-ending injury to Icardi meant Osimhen was the lone striker for the 2024/25 campaign, emulating the Argentine’s achievements by taking Galatasaray to Super Lig triumph by winning the Golden Boot.
What Buruk said
Icardi has played his way into contention this season, as Osimhen has struggled with injuries, and the former Inter striker is their current top scorer.
With both players fit and firing, Buruk has experimented with fielding them together, and it worked expertly against Eyüpspor, with Icardi scoring a hat-trick and Osimehn registering two assists.
“Icardi's 3 goals, Osimhen's 2 assists… There are many positive things,” Buruk said, per the club’s website. “We played with two strikers. We used it in the Kocaelispor match, and people thought Osimhen and Icardi couldn't play together. We tried it and got positive results.
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The Super Lig champions play Juventus in the Champions League playoff next, and Buruk is keen on the clash, stating convincingly that they will head into the game intending to beat the Serie A giants.
“A very different match and a very strong opponent awaits us. We will immediately recover mentally and prepare. You know how Atletico Madrid plays, but Juventus has very different formations.”
“Their build-up play can change from time to time. They have players who are very difficult to predict. They have very good wing players up front. Kenan Yıldız is very valuable. They don't give away easy chances.”