Victor Osimhen slammed by Villarreal coach after wild display in Galatasaray game – “Attacked our player”

Victor Osimhen and pip of Inigo Perez. (Photos by Imago)

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has come under fire for his behavior during Galatasaray’s pre-season friendly against Villarreal on Saturday, Soccernet.ng reports.

​The 27-year-old marksman has been in fine form and was on target for his club once again when they locked horns with the Spanish side in a friendly encounter at RAMS Park.

​He scored the equalizer for his side in the 5th minute — just a minute after Ayoze Perez had opened the scoring for the visitors—rising highest to meet a cross from Eren Elmali and steering a header home.

​However, his efforts proved insufficient as Cimbom ultimately succumbed to a 2-1 defeat after Georges Mikautadze scored just before halftime.

​Aside from the match result, the major talking point centered around Osimhen, and not for his goalscoring exploits. Instead, it was sparked by an ugly altercation he had with an opposing defender Santiago Mourino.

​Mourino, doing what any defender would, used his body to shield the ball and prevent Osimhen from getting into a dangerous position as a cross was floated into the box.

​The Super Eagles striker took exception to the physical marking. Once the passage of play ended, he marched over to Costa, shoved him forcefully to the floor, and began shouting angrily. Galatasaray teammates rushed in to douse the tension, but Osimhen continued to force the issue for about two minutes.

​Watch Video of The Incident Here

Trending video of the moment Victor Osimhen attacked opposition defender Santiago Mouriño, in a friendly match, four men had to hold him off. pic.twitter.com/sBYnWiAVIg

— Trending Explained (@TrendingEx) August 9, 2026

Trending video of the moment Victor Osimhen attacked opposition defender Santiago Mouriño, in a friendly match, four men had to hold him off. pic.twitter.com/sBYnWiAVIg

— Trending Explained (@TrendingEx) August 9, 2026

Soccer Villarreal Boss Inigo Perez Slams Victor Osimhen

​Despite the win, Villarreal head coach Inigo Perez was visibly unhappy about the incident and did not mince words when criticizing Osimhen after the match, arguing that the Nigerian forward deserved a red card.

​”There’s not much to say about the football, because the opposing team didn’t come onto the field to play football, but to fight,” Perez said.

​”Osimhen attacked our player out of nowhere and only got a yellow card.”

​Asides from Perez’s complaints, many Nigerian fans and football pundits have also expressed frustration with Osimhen’s conduct.

​This is not the first time the former Napoli man has boiled over in a Galatasaray shirt, as he has frequently found himself involved in unnecessary altercations with opponents.

​Osimhen is known for his fierce passion and the intensity he brings to every match. However, if he fails to curb his temperament, it risks becoming a costly liability.

Kelvin Omachonu

Kelvin Omachonu is a professional football columnist and sports writer with over half a decade of experience covering major events and delivering captivating, analytically-driven stories.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, he is fueled by a profound dedication to sports journalism and the beautiful game. His insights have previously been featured in respected outlets, including IndyPress UI, UCJ UI Newshive NG, Sportpremi, and a few others.
Away from work, Kelvin is an avid fan of basketball, enjoys a great movie, and is always discovering new music.