Victor Osimhen has openly revealed why he turned down the chance to join Liverpool last summer. According to the Nigerian striker, one particular player was the main reason behind his decision, as he strongly disliked the way the player approaches the game.

Istanbul, October 1, 2025 – Victor Osimhen didn’t hold back after his Galatasaray side stunned Liverpool 1-0 in a raucous Champions League league-phase thriller at RAMS Park on Tuesday night. The Nigerian powerhouse, fresh off a hamstring layoff and starting his first match in weeks, terrorized the Reds’ backline with his blistering pace and physicality, converting a 16th-minute penalty to seal the victory and hand Arne Slot’s men back-to-back defeats for the first time in his tenure. But in a fiery post-match interview, Osimhen zeroed in on one Liverpool defender – widely speculated to be Ibrahima Konaté – delivering a savage takedown that has ignited fury among Anfield loyalists.

“He is too weak for me, I passed him easily whenever I am with the ball,” Osimhen declared to Turkish broadcaster beIN Sports, his eyes flashing with the intensity that made him Napoli’s talisman. “No one should compare the defender’s strength to mine – the gap is too wide. I felt him shaking every time we locked horns. He has to do better if he wants to succeed at the top level. This is Champions League; you can’t be bullied like that.” The 26-year-old, who netted 26 Serie A goals last season before his controversial loan to Galatasaray, was unrepentant, adding: “I respect Liverpool’s history, but tonight? Their defense looked lost. I was through on goal three times because he couldn’t match my power.”

The penalty – awarded after Dominik Szoboszlai’s clumsy challenge on Osimhen in the box – was clinical, the striker sending Alisson Becker the wrong way down the middle amid deafening roars from 52,000 Turkish fans. It was Osimhen’s only shot on target, but his dominance in duels (winning 8 of 10) and constant harrying exposed Liverpool’s rearguard frailties. Konaté, the £36 million French center-back signed from RB Leipzig in 2021, was subbed off at halftime after picking up a knock in a robust clash with the striker – a moment Osimhen later mocked as “him backing away too quick.” Virgil van Dijk, Konaté’s partner, was left chasing shadows, later admitting: “Victor was a handful tonight. We weren’t at our best, but that’s no excuse.”

Social media erupted in the aftermath, with #OsimhenOwnsLiverpool trending worldwide. “Osimhen treated Konaté like a cone in training – Liverpool’s defense is a joke,” posted one viral clip from the match, racking up 150k views. Arsenal fans piled on: “Chelsea fumbled Osimhen, now Liverpool’s paying the price – that backline’s softer than butter.” Even neutral observers noted the irony; just months ago, Liverpool had eyed Osimhen as a Núñez upgrade before opting for Hugo Ekitike in a £79 million splash. Slot, fuming at full-time, defended his troops: “Ibrahima’s a warrior, but Osimhen’s world-class. We take the L, learn, and move on. No one’s weak here – it’s about cohesion.”

For Galatasaray, it was redemption after their 5-1 humbling by Eintracht Frankfurt in the opener. Osimhen, rushed back from injury and benched in recent domestic games to prioritize this clash, celebrated wildly with Mauro Icardi, who terrorized Liverpool’s flanks. “This one’s for the fans who chanted my name non-stop,” Osimhen grinned, donning a Superman cape in the tunnel – a nod to his aerial prowess that left Konaté grounded. The win catapults the Turkish giants to fourth in the league phase, while Liverpool, who started with a gritty 3-2 win over Atlético Madrid, now face mounting pressure ahead of a Premier League trip to Manchester City.

Osimhen’s loan from Napoli – laced with a €75 million buy option – was meant to showcase him for a big-money Premier League move, but nights like this have suitors circling. Arsenal and Chelsea, who both balked at his wages last summer, are reportedly rekindling interest, while whispers of a January Liverpool U-turn grow louder. “I want a team that challenges me,” Osimhen hinted cryptically. “Liverpool? Maybe next time – but only if they fix that backline.” As Slot pores over tapes in Merseyside, one thing’s clear: the man Liverpool once courted is now their nemesis, and his words sting deeper than any goal.