Victor Osimhen to Barcelona? 3 reasons critics are wrong about Super Eagles & Galatasaray striker

Former Turkey international Serdar Dursun has questioned whether Victor Osimhen has the qualities needed to succeed at Barcelona, Afrik-Foot reports.

Dursun, who previously played for Fenerbahce, shared his opinion during an appearance on Spor Smart’s Kupa Günlüğü programme via BuzzSpor. According to him, Osimhen’s playing style does not match Barcelona’s traditional football philosophy, even though the Super Eagles star has built a reputation as an elite goalscorer.

The Hamburg-born striker’s comments come even as Barcelona continue to be linked with a move for Osimhen as they prepare for life after veteran striker Robert Lewandowski. The Nigerian forward is coming off another outstanding season with Galatasaray, where he scored goals consistently and helped the Turkish giants enjoy another successful campaign.

Still, Dursun argued that Osimhen’s biggest weakness is not his ability to score goals but his overall technical quality.

However, not everyone agrees with that assessment.

Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen. Copyright: xBSRxAgencyxIMAGO

Former Super Eagles coach José Peseiro previously dismissed similar criticism, pointing to Manchester City’s success with Erling Haaland under Pep Guardiola. Haaland also arrived with questions over whether his direct style would fit a possession-based system, but he quickly became the Premier League’s most feared centre-forward while helping City win major trophies.

The comparison suggests that elite teams can adjust their tactics to maximise the strengths of exceptional forwards rather than forcing every striker to play the same way.

Osimhen’s biggest strengths that add value to Barcelona

Elite movement that creates space for teammates

One of Osimhen’s greatest strengths is what he does without the ball.

The Super Eagles striker constantly makes runs behind defenders, forcing opposing backlines to retreat towards their own goal. Those movements stretch defensive shapes and create gaps in dangerous attacking areas.

This would be a major advantage for Barcelona. Players like Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Dani Olmo thrive when they have space to receive the ball between the lines. Osimhen’s intelligent movement would give these creative players more room to operate while also creating passing lanes for quick through balls.

Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen. Copyright: xBroerxvanxdenxBoomxIMAGO

His pace also means defenders cannot afford to lose concentration for even a second. If they push too high, Osimhen has the speed to race behind them and create scoring opportunities.

This ability to constantly disturb defenders is something Barcelona have sometimes lacked against teams that defend deep.

Physical strength and aerial ability offer a different attacking option

Barcelona have traditionally preferred technically gifted forwards, but modern football often requires different solutions during difficult matches.

Osimhen brings qualities that few elite strikers can match. His strength allows him to hold off defenders, while his incredible jumping ability ensures only one or two strikers in Europe pose better aerial threats than the Nigeria international. These qualities would give Barcelona another way to score goals.

Instead of relying only on short passing combinations, the Spanish giants could also attack through crosses into the penalty area or long passes when opponents apply heavy pressure.

Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen. Copyright: xBSRxAgencyxIMAGO

Against physically strong defenders or well-organised defensive blocks, Osimhen’s presence inside the box would create problems that technical ability alone cannot solve.

His combination of power, balance and timing regularly allows him to win headers against taller defenders, making him dangerous from crosses, corners and free kicks.

Relentless pressing fits modern football

Another reason the argument against Osimhen does not fully stand up is his work rate. The Super Eagles striker is known for pressing defenders aggressively from the front. Rather than waiting for teammates to recover possession, he constantly chases centre-backs and goalkeepers, forcing them into rushed clearances and mistakes.

This style perfectly matches the demands of modern elite football. Many of Europe’s top clubs now defend by pressing high up the pitch instead of sitting deep. Osimhen’s energy allows his team to regain possession closer to the opponent’s goal, creating quick scoring chances before the defence can recover.

Barcelona have increasingly adopted this aggressive approach in recent seasons. Having a striker willing to lead the press for 90 minutes would strengthen that system rather than weaken it. His profile may be different from previous Barcelona strikers, but different does not necessarily mean unsuitable.