Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is poised to make his return to the pitch on Friday as Galatasaray takes on Karagumruk.
According to Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk, Osimhen’s absence from Saturday’s 3-0 win over Gaziantep was purely fitness-related.
Buruk explained that Osimhen had only a five or six-day training period, and playing during that time could have been risky for him.
The coach said: “I spoke to him about this, and he indicated he was considering resting for this match and aiming for some playing time in the next one”.
Osimhen’s late arrival for pre-season training due to prolonged transfer negotiations from Napoli contributed to his fitness concerns.
Despite this, he has been working hard to regain his form and is expected to feature prominently in Friday’s match.
Osimhen joined Galatasaray in a record-breaking €75 million deal, making him one of the highest-paid players in Europe.
Meanwhile, Osimhen has found himself at the center of a controversy surrounding the renaming of a mosque in Turkey.
The Bulut Mosque in Konya was mistakenly listed on Google Maps as “Victor Osimhen Mosque”, sparking outrage among worshippers.
They objected to the change, citing that Osimhen is a Christian name and the mosque’s original name should be restored.
Community member Zeki Yaylacı described the situation as “a shame” and “an insult to Muslims, the mosque community, and mosques themselves”.
There is no indication that Osimhen was aware of or involved in the alteration, which appears to have resulted from incorrect user edits.
The mosque’s congregation has strongly objected to the name change, with one congregant saying, “We have been a congregation of Bulut Mosque since we have been here. We are against it being changed to Victor Osimhen.
“The name Victor Osimhen is a Christian name. As the mosque congregation, we want the authorities to look into this issue”.
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