Victor Osimhen’s absence through injury has become one of the defining storylines of Galatasaray’s 2025/26 Super Lig campaign, with the Turkish club reportedly pressing the Nigeria international to return to action ahead of schedule despite not being fully recovered from a fractured arm.
According to reports, Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk has made a direct personal appeal to the striker, conveying the scale of the club’s need for his return. “I know you are not fully fit, but we need you. Do not leave us alone in these critical weeks,” Buruk reportedly told Osimhen, underscoring the mounting pressure the club faces with the title race tightening.
Galatasaray have dropped five points in recent weeks, suffering a defeat to Trabzonspor and being held to a draw by Kocaelispor. Those results have allowed their rivals to narrow the gap at the top of the table, with only five league fixtures remaining in the season — a schedule in which every point carries significant weight.
Sources suggest Galatasaray’s medical staff are working to accelerate Osimhen’s rehabilitation, with the possibility that he could return to the pitch earlier than initially anticipated. Reports indicate the club are hopeful he may be available before their high-stakes derby fixture against city rivals Fenerbahce, a match that could have a decisive bearing on the title outcome.
The Nigerian forward’s injury has exposed a notable vulnerability in Galatasaray’s attacking options. The team has struggled for consistency across league, cup, and European competitions in his absence, with no adequate replacement able to replicate his output. Former Galatasaray top scorer Mauro Icardi has failed to fill the void left by Osimhen, having delivered a string of underwhelming performances that led to him being dropped from the starting lineup. His limited influence in recent matches has only served to illustrate how central Osimhen is to Galatasaray’s attacking structure.
Osimhen joined Galatasaray on loan from Napoli ahead of the 2024/25 season after a high-profile transfer to Paris Saint-Germain collapsed. He made an immediate impact during his first stint at the club, establishing himself as one of the Super Lig’s most dangerous forwards. His permanent or extended association with Galatasaray has been the subject of ongoing speculation, with reports emerging separately of Barcelona exploring a bid that would surpass Neymar’s transfer fee.
Despite the recent dip in form and the points dropped, Buruk has maintained a positive message within the squad, publicly stating that the title remains within reach and that the race is not yet decided. Whether Galatasaray can mount a sustained challenge in the season’s closing stages, however, appears largely contingent on Osimhen’s fitness and his ability to respond to his manager’s reported call to return.
