Osimhen snubbed! Juve hire man who ditched Super Eagles star for struggling striker

Juventus have sacked manager Thiago Motta and handed the reins to Igor Tudor, a man who once controversially dismissed Nigeria’s Super Eagles sensation Victor Osimhen as inferior to the club’s misfiring striker Dusan Vlahovic.

The appointment, confirmed on Sunday evening, comes just 48 hours after Osimhen powered the Super Eagles to a commanding victory over Rwanda in a 2026 World Cup qualifier, raising eyebrows over Tudor’s judgment and Juventus’ transfer ambitions.

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Tudor’s arrival in Turin has reignited a fiery debate, especially given his past comments about Osimhen, who’s currently tearing it up on loan at Galatasaray from SSC Napoli.

The 26-year-old striker has been heavily linked with a blockbuster move to Juventus this summer, but it seems the new boss isn’t sold on the Nigerian goal machine.

According to a Football Italia report, Tudor made his stance clear back in 2022 while managing Verona.

When asked if Osimhen was Serie A’s top striker, he bluntly replied: “No, he’s a strong player, but the strongest is Vlahovic. He’s one of the best.”

This bold claim looks questionable now. Osimhen has been a revelation in Turkey, smashing in an astonishing 26 goals and adding five assists in just 30 appearances across all competitions this season.

Meanwhile, Vlahovic, Juventus’ supposed golden boy, has managed a modest 14 goals in 34 matches and has been relegated to the bench since January, starting just one Serie A game in 2025 after the arrival of PSG loanee Randal Kolo Muani.

Tudor’s preference for the Serbian striker over the red-hot Osimhen has fans and pundits scratching their heads and some crying foul.

Could this be a deliberate snub of the Super Eagles star? With Juventus reportedly eyeing Osimhen as a marquee signing, Tudor’s appointment throws a wrench into those plans.

Is the Croatian tactician blind to the Nigerian’s brilliance, or does he genuinely believe Vlahovic can outshine one of Europe’s most lethal forwards?

Either way, the controversy is brewing, and Juventus supporters are bracing for a wild ride under their new, opinionated boss.