Victor Osimhen Refuses Galatasaray Captain’s Armband During Rennes Friendly

Victor Osimhen surprised fans during Galatasaray’s pre-season clash against Rennes after declining the opportunity to captain the Turkish champions, despite being offered the armband in the second half of the match.

The Super Eagles striker was one of the standout performers as Galatasaray played out an entertaining 3-3 draw with the French side at the Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex RAMS Park. Osimhen opened the scoring by rising above the Rennes defence to head home a pinpoint corner delivered by Gabriel Sara.

The most talked-about moment, however, came in the 74th minute when Galatasaray captain Abdülkerim Bardakcı was substituted. Before leaving the pitch, Bardakcı handed the captain’s armband to Osimhen, signalling that the Nigerian forward should lead the team for the remainder of the game.

Osimhen politely declined the honour and instead passed the armband to teammate Yunus Akgün, suggesting the attacking midfielder should wear it instead.

Akgün appeared surprised by the gesture and reportedly tried to persuade Osimhen to reconsider. The Nigerian striker, however, remained firm in his decision, leaving Akgün to take over the captaincy.

The incident comes just weeks after Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk indicated that Osimhen was among the players being considered for a leadership role at the club following the departure of Mauro Icardi.

Although Osimhen’s decision sparked conversation among supporters, the striker showed his commitment on the pitch with another goal as Galatasaray continued preparations for the new season. The Nigerian international is expected to play a key role for the Turkish champions as they target success in domestic competitions and Europe.