Rafael Leão has opened up about his friendship with Victor Osimhen, revealing that their close bond was a significant factor in his decision to join Galatasaray during the summer transfer window.

Speaking in an interview with Forza Cimbom, the Portuguese forward described Osimhen as a genuine friend and expressed enthusiasm about what the pair could achieve together in Istanbul.

"We had a meeting with Osimhen before the transfer. He's a very good friend of mine. Now we're together, we'll do good work, we'll achieve beautiful things, and we'll achieve big things for Galatasaray! We want to become champions; we want to rise high in Europe."

Osimhen, who completed a permanent transfer to the Turkish club this summer, reached out personally to Leão during the window to persuade him to choose Galatasaray over other European clubs, including Aston Villa.

Old teammates reunited

The two forwards are no strangers to one another. They previously lined up together at LOSC Lille in France before their careers took them to Italy's Serie A, where they became rivals on opposite sides.

Their reunion in Turkey now gives Galatasaray one of the most exciting attacking combinations in European football outside the continent's top five leagues.

Osimhen fires Galatasaray to the summit

While Leão settles in, Osimhen has already made a devastating start to the Turkish Super Lig campaign. The Super Eagles striker scored and provided an assist as Galatasaray came from behind to defeat Goztepe 3-2 at RAMS Park on Saturday.

That performance brought his tally to five goals in three league matches — a remarkable return that signals just how quickly the Nigeria international has taken to life at his new club.