‘Career suicide’ - Sunday Oliseh slams Turkish Lig in fresh dig at Osimhen after Lookman rejected Fenerbahce

Super Eagles legend Sunday Oliseh has once again stirred the pot in the ongoing debate surrounding Nigerian stars and the Saudi/Turkish transfer moves, appearing to take a subtle swipe at Victor Osimhen’s recent career path.

Speaking on a new podcast episode with veteran broadcaster Charles Anazodo, Oliseh did not hold back when discussing Ademola Lookman’s high-profile move to Atletico Madrid.

While celebrating Lookman’s decision to remain in Europe’s elite leagues, Oliseh’s commentary served as a pointed reminder of his stance on elite players moving to less competitive environments.

Posting a link to the podcast, Oliseh captioned the clip with a blunt verdict:

"A move to Turkey would have been career suicide for Lookman."

For Oliseh, Lookman’s transition from Serie A to La Liga under the tutelage of Diego Simeone is the ideal step for a player at the peak of his powers.

Despite Simeone’s reputation for rigid defensive structures, Oliseh believes the tactical demands will transform the Nigerian forward into a world-class asset.

"One thing this man is going to learn, he's going to learn now how to play," Oliseh remarked. "He's going to get even stronger and better technically and tactically because the Spanish league itself is a total different style of play.”

“It's all about tactics, techniques, prepared sc​hemes, just that Diego Simeone shifts more to the defensive side. So, he's not a bad trainer."

Broadcaster Charles Anazodo echoed these sentiments, highlighting that Lookman’s experience in Italy has already prepared him for the tactical discipline required in Madrid.

Anazodo dismissed fears that Simeone’s system would stifle Lookman’s flair, arguing instead that it creates a more "all-round" footballer.

"I don't buy the idea that it takes away his creative spark," Anazodo stated. "What it does is it adds to his ability as a footballer. So you learn when to go forward, you learn when to come back and help your teammates in defending. It all bodes well for our football as Nigerians for the Super Eagles going to the next AFCON and hopefully qualifying for the FIFA World Cup as well."

The discussion took a sharper turn when comparing the move to the alternatives that have recently tempted other Nigerian stars, most notably Victor Osimhen’s loan to Galatasaray.

“I must say a big congratulations to Lookman. Going to Turkey... I mean that would have just killed his career. That would have killed his career,” Anazodo added.

The comments are being viewed by many fans as a continuation of Oliseh’s critical stance on top-tier Nigerian talent opting for the Turkish Super Lig or the Middle East while still in their prime.

By labelling such a move "suicide," the former national team captain has made it clear that he believes the Super Eagles' success depends on its stars remaining in Europe’s Top five leagues.