Juventus icon Alessandro Del Piero has lauded Victor Osimhen for his dominant display against the Bianconeri during Tuesday night’s Champions League playoff first leg. The Nigerian forward served as the architect of a stunning 5-2 victory for Galatasaray at the Rams Park, delivering a performance that left the Italian legend in awe. While Osimhen did not find the back of the net himself, he provided two critical assists and maintained a relentless physical presence that systematically dismantled the Juventus defensive line over the course of the 90 minutes.
Del Piero, who remains the all-time leading scorer for the Turin giants, admitted that the 27-year-old striker represents a unique level of athletic and technical excellence that strikes fear into the hearts of opponents. Despite his historical ties to Juventus, the World Cup winner could not hide his admiration for the striker’s work rate and leadership. Osimhen’s selfless play allowed teammates Noa Lang and Sacha Boey to capitalize on the chaos he created, effectively putting Galatasaray in a commanding position to reach the Round of 16.
“The very existence of players like Victor Osimhen is frightening… He’s a cold-blooded, high-quality player. He never gives up,” Del Piero said, per Futboo.
The former Napoli star’s performance proved particularly poignant given his history with current Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti, with whom he won the Serie A title in 2023. Spalletti’s return to Istanbul proved to be a tactical nightmare, as Osimhen’s constant pressing forced uncharacteristic errors from a normally resolute Juventus back four. Del Piero noted that while Juventus briefly led 2-1 at halftime, the sheer willpower of players like Osimhen eventually overwhelmed the visitors in a high-intensity second half.
As both teams prepare for the return leg in Turin next Wednesday, Del Piero warned his former club that they must find a way to neutralize the Nigerian’s influence if they hope to overturn the three-goal deficit. For Osimhen, the victory further cements his status as a premier global talent and justifies Galatasaray’s massive investment in him during the last transfer window. The football world now awaits to see if the “Old Lady” can recover from what Del Piero described as an “unforgivable” lack of character against the Turkish champions.
About the Author
