Galatasaray’s technical and medical staff member Ali Kucuk has revealed the reason Victor Osimhen was left out of the squad for the club’s recent clash against Genclerbirligi, despite initial expectations that the Nigerian striker could feature.
Kucuk explained that the decision was made purely on medical and fitness grounds after Osimhen showed signs of fatigue during training sessions leading up to the match. According to him, the striker had only recently returned to full training following a spell on the sidelines, and the club did not want to take any risks with his recovery.
He added that although Osimhen was eager to play and even insisted on being involved, the final decision was made collectively by the coaching and medical teams to protect the player from aggravating his condition. The priority, he stressed, was to ensure the forward is fully fit for more important upcoming fixtures.
Osimhen has been dealing with fitness concerns since suffering a forearm injury earlier in the season, which has already limited his availability for key matches. Galatasaray are now carefully managing his minutes as they approach a crucial stage of their campaign, with the striker expected to play a bigger role in the coming weeks if he continues to recover well.
The situation has once again sparked discussion among fans, with many eager to see the Super Eagles striker back in action given his importance to the team’s attacking output.
For now, Galatasaray remain cautious, prioritising long-term fitness over short-term availability as they look to finish the season strongly.
