Top Turkish basketball coach, Ergin Ataman, has criticised the heavy spending by Turkish football clubs, particularly Galatasaray’s record-breaking signing of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, saying such investments are pointless without success in European competitions.
Speaking to local media outlet Habersarikirmizi, Ataman expressed frustration over the lack of progress made by Turkish teams in European tournaments despite spending millions on high-profile players.
“Football in Türkiye has its own economy. Millions of dollars are being spent,” Ataman said. “There is no success in Europe. You see, my team is Galatasaray. Osimhen is 80 million euros. Okay, but is all this just to become the Turkish champion?”
He added that while local dominance is good, true progress should be measured by how well clubs perform in Europe.
“For me, the criterion is to be successful in Europe. To be able to reach the semi-finals of a European cup. It is not necessary to be a champion. This has not been achieved for years,” he said.
Ataman, who currently coaches Panathinaikos in Greece and is a well-known figure in Turkish sports, made the comments while discussing the state of Turkish football and the country’s focus on big-money transfers instead of long-term competitive growth.
Victor Osimhen was signed from Italian Serie A side Napoli in what is reportedly the most expensive transfer in Turkish football history. The Nigerian international joined Galatasaray this past summer in a deal believed to be worth around €80 million.
The transfer raised eyebrows both in Turkey and across Europe, with many questioning whether Galatasaray could achieve the kind of continental success that would justify such a massive investment.
Galatasaray, one of Türkiye’s biggest clubs, has not reached the semi-finals of a European competition since its UEFA Cup win in 2000. Despite winning domestic titles in recent years, the club has struggled to make an impact in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League.
