Galatasaray manager, Okan Buruk, has given an update on Victor Osimhen’s fitness ahead of their UEFA Champions League showdown with Liverpool.
The Nigerian forward, who recently returned from injury, came off the bench in Galatasaray’s 1-0 win over Alanyaspor on Friday.
The 26-year-old had been sidelined for three weeks after picking up an injury while on international duty, missing three matches in the process.
Speaking to Turkish outlet Reformhaber, Buruk revealed that Osimhen is still not fully fit.
“Today, our plan was to have Osimhen on the field for 10 minutes. It was essential for him to experience pushing through the pain, as that’s a critical aspect of the game,” Buruk said.
“However, I must emphasise that he is not 100% physically ready. Since returning from the national team, he hasn’t participated in any team training sessions. He played a short stint with us yesterday.
“We will closely evaluate his pain and physical condition before deciding on his involvement in the next match. While Barış may have preferred a winger when he came off, my decision to bring Osimhen on was strategic, he needed that 10 minutes to prepare for future contributions.”
