Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk has delivered an encouraging fitness update on Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, revealing the 27-year-old has resumed running on the pitch as he continues his rehabilitation from an arm fracture.
Speaking ahead of the club’s upcoming Süper Lig fixture, Buruk indicated that Osimhen is unlikely to feature against Kocaelispor this weekend but could be in contention for the squad the following week when Galatasaray host Gençlerbirliği — provided his recovery continues on its current trajectory.
“Osimhen’s recovery process — well, he has started running. We already shared that as news,” Buruk said. “He started running. Of course, I think it will be difficult for this weekend, but for the Gençlerbirliği match we play the following week — if conditions are suitable, of course — I think he could be in the squad.”
However, Buruk also raised the possibility of a more cautious approach to the striker’s return, suggesting the medical staff may elect to hold Osimhen back for a fixture of greater significance. “But we might even skip that and consider using him in the Fenerbahçe match. However, we need to monitor his progress; we need to see how things go there,” the coach added.
The remarks indicate that ensuring Osimhen is fully fit and available to start in the season-defining Istanbul derby against Fenerbahçe remains the primary objective for the club’s medical and coaching staff.
The update comes at a critical stage of the Süper Lig title race. Galatasaray secured an important victory over Göztepe in their most recent outing, a result that helped consolidate their position at the top of the table. That win was a timely response following their 2-1 defeat to Trabzonspor the previous weekend — a loss that exposed the team’s vulnerabilities in Osimhen’s absence.
Following the Trabzonspor setback, Buruk openly acknowledged that his side’s high-pressing structure and overall team chemistry had broken down significantly without the Nigerian frontman as the focal point of their attack. The admission underlined just how central Osimhen has become to Galatasaray’s style of play since joining the club on loan from Napoli ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Osimhen, who has been one of the standout performers in Turkish football this term, has played a pivotal role in keeping Galatasaray in contention for the league title. His absence through injury has coincided with a dip in form for the Istanbul club, reinforcing the extent to which the team’s attacking output depends on his presence.
With the Fenerbahçe derby — one of the most fiercely contested fixtures in Turkish club football — on the horizon, the timing of Osimhen’s return could prove decisive in determining the destination of the Süper Lig title. Galatasaray will be hopeful that their medical team can manage his workload carefully over the coming weeks to ensure he is available and at full capacity for that encounter.
