Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk has confirmed that Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is still not physically ready for the Champions League clash with Liverpool.
Osimhen returned to action on Friday night, coming off the bench in Galatasaray’s narrow 1-0 win over Alanyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig.
The forward had been sidelined for three weeks after sustaining an injury while on international duty with Nigeria earlier this month.
That setback forced him to miss three matches across all competitions, leaving Galatasaray short of attacking firepower during a crucial period.
Buruk admitted the 26-year-old striker is yet to regain full fitness. He also stressed that his short cameo against Alanyaspor was only a stepping stone.
Buruk explains strategic Osimhen substitution
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Speaking to Turkish outlet Reformhaber, Buruk revealed the club’s plan was to give Osimhen just ten minutes on the pitch.
According to him, the objective was to help the forward push through discomfort, an important stage in his recovery process.
However, the coach made it clear that Osimhen remains below peak condition, having missed all team training sessions since returning from international duty.
Buruk explained that while another player may have been a more natural substitution, bringing Osimhen on was a calculated move.
The cameo, he said, was designed to accelerate his adaptation ahead of bigger challenges, including the looming clash with Liverpool.
For now, Galatasaray will continue to closely monitor his pain levels and physical readiness before making a final decision.
With such a high-profile fixture on the horizon, Buruk insisted the team cannot take unnecessary risks with their star forward.
The Turkish champions will therefore weigh Osimhen’s importance against the need to protect him for upcoming fixtures.
Tags: Okan Buruk, Victor Osimhen, Galatasaray, Liverpool, #LFC, #YNWA, #SoarSuperEagles, Super Eagles, Champions League, #UCL, Turkish Super Lig.
