Icardi throws cryptic shade amid Osimhen’s arrival at Galatasaray

Mauro Icardi, Galatasaray’s star striker, has sparked controversy with a cryptic social media post that many believe is aimed at new teammate Victor Osimhen following his high-profile move to the Turkish giants. Icardi’s post on Instagram, which appeared on the same day Osimhen’s loan transfer from Napoli was announced, has stirred debate among fans and football pundits alike.

Icardi shared a message that read, “The lion dominates in silence, while dogs bark to attract attention,” accompanied by an image of himself with a lion’s face. This post has been widely interpreted as a subtle dig at Osimhen, whose arrival has generated considerable excitement and media attention.

The timing of Icardi’s message raised eyebrows, as it coincided with the announcement of Osimhen’s loan deal to Galatasaray, where he is expected to lead the attack while Icardi recovers from injury. The Nigerian forward’s move followed a summer of intense transfer speculation, with Chelsea and Al Ahli both in the running to sign him before his eventual switch to Turkey.

Osimhen, the reigning African Player of the Year, has quickly gained popularity in Turkey, with his Instagram following surging by over 200,000 since the transfer. His arrival has also bolstered Galatasaray’s social media presence, helping the club reach new milestones online.

Despite the apparent tension, both Osimhen and Icardi are expected to play pivotal roles for Galatasaray this season. Icardi, who is currently sidelined, will likely partner with Osimhen once he returns from injury in October, creating a formidable strike partnership for the Turkish champions.

Osimhen’s move to Galatasaray came after a difficult summer with Napoli, where he was left out of the squad under new manager Antonio Conte. Napoli eventually brought in Romelu Lukaku as Osimhen’s replacement, leading to his departure on a season-long loan. While Osimhen’s future remains tied to Napoli until 2027, his current focus is on helping Galatasaray achieve domestic and European success.

As the dust settles on Icardi’s cryptic post, all eyes will be on how the two stars coexist and contribute to Galatasaray’s campaign.