Legendary English striker apologised for spreading lies about Victor Osimhen.
Veteran British broadcaster Gary Lineker has apologised to Victor Osimhen and explicitly recanted an earlier statement he made about the Nigerian international’s work ethic.
Lineker, 64, had a successful career playing for the England national team, Barcelona and Leicester City, among others. After his playing career, he transitioned into broadcasting and is one of the most respected voices in football.
Hence, extra attention was paid when he made rather damning allegations about Osimhen. Weeks after the initial statement, he has now apologised.
)
Lineker Apologises
Famed for his role as the presenter on Match of the Day for multiple decades, before his recent exit, Lineker’s voice and thoughts on football can still be heard on The Rest is Football Podcast, co-hosted with fellow ex-English pros Micah Richards and Alan Shearer.
On one of the snippets for their most recent episode shared on social media, Lineker can be seen apologising to Osimhen for his earlier comments, claiming that the Nigerian has been known to miss training from time to time.
“I need to apologise to Victor Osimhen,” Lineker started. “Remember, I intimated that he goes missing sometimes. And I believe that is actually completely not the case.”
“So Victor, if you’re listening, I’m sorry about that. You shouldn’t spout rumours on these things, so my bad on that.”
He went on to praise Victor Osimhen’s physical and technical qualities, with his co-host, Shearer, chiming in on how he dominated Ibrahima Konate and Virgil Van Dijk in Galatasaray’s triumph over Liverpool a few days ago.
What Lineker said
As Pulse Sports reported, Lineker, in speculating why Premier League clubs failed to make a move for Victor Osimhen last summer, instead opting for inferior options, claimed that the Nigerian casts a disappearing act.
The former Foxes striker, who is well in tune with English top-flight football, having hosted BBC’s Match of the Day for 26 years before leaving in May, fawned over Osimhen’s talents, revealing that he has monitored the Nigerian closely since watching him dominate his club, Leicester City.
Lineker then said that Osimhen’s character was a contributing factor to Premier League clubs failing to make an effort for him.
“I do hear on the grapevine that a reason one or two of the clubs are a little bit nervous is that he sometimes goes missing for a few days. So, there’s apparently some kind of slight question mark as to his character in that sense.”
Meanwhile, Osimhen came off the pitch injured during the game against Liverpool. However, Okan Buruk, the Galatasaray head coach, confirmed today that he will be available for tomorrow’s Istanbul Derby against Besiktas.
