Soccer
Victor Osimhen and Nicky Butt. Photo by IMAGO
Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen, has been linked with several top clubs ahead of a summer move, but the favour could tilt in favour of Manchester United, Soccernet.ng reports.
Former England and Manchester United defender Nicky Butt has urged his former side to go all out for Osimhen, largely over Sesko’s inconsistency in front of goal, alongside his fitness problems.
Manchester United splashed an initial payment of £66.3 million (€76.5 million) on the Slovenian striker, with an additional £7.4 million (€8.5 million) in performance-related add-ons, but his 10 goals in 28 games haven’t done well to help his cause.
Osimhen, on the other hand, has scored 19 goals in 29 games for Galatasaray across all competitions, and Butt believes the Nigerian is the right fit at Old Trafford.
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Soccer Nicky Butt cries out for Osimhen amidst Sesko’s ineptitude
For the eight-time Premier League champion, Sesko has potential, but at the moment, that’s all it is, and for a club with a stature like Manchester United’s, that’s not enough.
“I don’t think he can carry the club up front on his own, they’ll need another no9,’ Butt said about Sesko in quotes revealed by the Mirror UK.
“He’s shown he’s got massive potential, great movement, and he works his socks off. He can score a goal, and you can see he’s good in the air, but he’s not the complete centre-forward for United at that level. He can potentially get there.
“When you go into the Champions League, it’s just a different kettle of fish. The tempo is totally different, the pressure on it is totally different. You’ve then got to come back and perform in the league, maybe two days later.
“They’re going to have to go out and buy a top, top player. I do believe in recruitment; there’s no point in going and buying a player who doesn’t improve the squad.
“You’ve got to go and buy the best player. I think Sesko will be a good player for United. I don’t think he needs replacing, but someone better than him that can lift his game as well,” the 51-year-old continued.
In response to Sesko’s apparent flaws, the one-time UEFA Champions League winner believes that Victor Osimhen ticks all the boxes to rule at the Theatre of Dreams.
“I think he’d [Osimhen] be the one. You’d like to think that players from Turkish sides are gettable.
“The recruitment team will not only look at the best players, but you’re looking at the gettable ones. You’re wasting time on certain players that you’re not going to get if they cost £120million.
“I think he’s powerful, quick, he can run in behind, he’s strong, has got a good touch, can score different types of goals, he’s good in the air.
“It’s a difficult job to recruit players, and maybe you go and find someone with potential, but they keep doing that, and it doesn’t quite work.
“Sesko has not quite worked. Rasmus Hojlund didn’t work. You’ve got to be careful, spending £65m, £70m on unproven people, it’s not right.
“With Sesko, it’s the same mistake as Hojlund. A young, unproven striker, a lot of money, too much weight on his shoulders. Let’s be honest, he’s scored a few goals, he’s done well over the last few weeks, but he’s not been a roaring success.
“Sesko might be ready in two or three years, but not right now and definitely not in the Champions League.
“I know Osimhen isn’t proven in the Premier League, but you look at his physicality and the way he plays football, he can definitely handle it,” Nicky Butt concluded.
Victor Osimhen, meanwhile, is currently suffering a forearm fracture. He’s expected to be out of action for the next month at least after undergoing a surgical procedure.
Adefolahan Guerreiro
Adefolahan is a multilingual sports journalist and football writer whose work spans outlets like Soccernet Nigeria, Pure Football UK, and Royalsportz.
With a sharp eye for detail and a background in college sports, he tells the African football story with depth, flair, and global perspective.
Fluent in English, Spanish, and German, he brings a cross-cultural voice to his coverage, blending insight with accessibility for readers around the world.
His portfolio includes interviews with top Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, Sikiru Alimi, Sodiq Ismaila, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.
A devoted Borussia Dortmund fan, Adefolahan thrives on the emotion and rhythm of the beautiful game. Away from work, he’s a sci-fi enthusiast and series lover who enjoys exploring how sport, storytelling, and culture collide.
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