Super Eagles’ Osimhen pleased as his ‘brother’ earned Brazil call-up after rejecting Syria

Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen shared how he jokingly tried to persuade his Galatasaray teammate Gabriel Sara to play for Syria, a suggestion that was ultimately rejected when the midfielder earned his first senior call‑up for Brazil, according to Afrik‑Foot.

Sara, who has emerged as one of Turkey’s most influential midfielders since joining Galatasaray from Norwich City in 2024, was eligible to represent both Brazil and Syria. The 26‑year‑old was born in Joinville, Brazil, but also qualifies for Syria through his mother’s family heritage.

Under FIFA regulations, a player may switch national teams if a parent or grandparent was born in the country. Syrian media reports claimed that the Syrian Football Federation had approached the Galatasaray star about a potential international switch.

However, Sara’s performances for Galatasaray earned him a place in coach Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the March 2026 international friendlies.

The midfielder described the invitation to join the Seleção as “the chance of a lifetime,” underscoring that his ambition has always been to represent his birth country.

Osimhen admitted he teased his teammate about accepting Syria’s offer, but said he was genuinely proud to see Sara receive recognition from one of football’s biggest national teams.

“Gabriel Sara is my brother. We always talk and joke around,” Osimhen said, as reported by Futbolarena.

“For example, the Syrian National Team had sent an invitation. I told him he absolutely had to accept. He’s someone I respect and love a lot. We tease and criticize each other half‑jokingly.”

“I was so happy when he got called up to the Brazil National Team. I hope he’ll wear the Brazil National Team jersey in the World Cup and represent his country. Because he’s a player of that level. I love Sara a lot.”

Osimhen, Sara partnership flourishes at Galatasaray

Since arriving at Galatasaray in 2024, both players have become central figures in one of the club’s most successful eras.

Osimhen joined the Turkish giants on loan from Napoli before his impressive displays convinced the club to secure a permanent transfer. Sara, meanwhile, quickly established himself as the creative engine of the midfield after moving from Norwich City.

Together, the duo helped Galatasaray win consecutive Turkish Süper Lig titles in 2024/25 and 2025/26, and lift the Turkish Cup in their first season together. Their partnership also propelled the club to unprecedented European progress, with back‑to‑back deep runs in continental competition for the first time in more than a decade.

Osimhen’s individual numbers have been extraordinary. In the 2024/25 season, the Super Eagles forward scored 36 goals in 40 matches across all competitions, becoming the first foreign player in Süper Lig history to score more than 35 goals in a single season.

He finished as the league’s top scorer with 31 league goals and won multiple individual awards, including Galatasaray Player of the Season. The Nigerian also made club history in Europe by scoring in seven consecutive continental matches.

Sara’s influence has been more subtle but equally vital. In his first league season in Turkey, the Brazilian midfielder added two goals and seven assists in 31 league matches while dictating Galatasaray’s tempo.

He improved further in the 2025/26 campaign, registering five goals and four assists in his first 27 league appearances. These displays eventually attracted the attention of Ancelotti and the Brazilian coaching staff, leading to his long‑awaited international breakthrough.

Both players appear set to remain at Galatasaray next season, despite a long list of suitors—including Real Madrid for Osimhen—queueing for their services this summer.