Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk has given a fresh update on the Osimhen return date, revealing there is “no set timeline” for the Super Eagles striker’s comeback after knee surgery — with the club monitoring him day by day and the two-week international break now crucial to his recovery.
Buruk spoke after Galatasaray’s thrilling 4-3 win over Amedspor on Saturday night, a result that sent the Turkish champions into the break five points clear at the top of the Super Lig. The victory came without their star striker, who went under the knife earlier in the day, and the coach made it clear the club will not rush him back.
Buruk: ‘We need to monitor it day by day’
Asked about the Osimhen return date, Buruk was honest about the uncertainty facing Galatasaray’s medical team.
“There’s no set timeline. There are estimated timeframes. We need to monitor it day by day,” the Galatasaray boss said. “The international break has given us a two-week advantage. We’ll monitor the situation day by day and evaluate the process. There may be situations where we won’t risk him for a week, three days, or five days. These two weeks are crucial for us.”
Buruk also confirmed the striker is not the only concern in the treatment room, adding that new signing Rafael Leao “had to leave the game today” and will undergo medical checks, while hoping “they’ll return as soon as possible”.
Three weeks out — and the Aston Villa target
Osimhen underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Saturday at Maslak Acibadem Hospital in Istanbul, performed by Galatasaray club doctor Yener Ince. An MRI scan had revealed a loose body in the joint after the striker suffered a strain during the Champions League win over VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday.
Turkish reports put the recovery at around three weeks, which would rule Osimhen out of Galatasaray’s next two league fixtures and leave the Champions League trip to Aston Villa on 24 November as the realistic target for his return. No date has been confirmed by the club, and Buruk’s comments suggest even that could shift depending on how the knee responds in the coming days.
His absence has already had an impact on the Golden Boot race. Gift Orban overtook Osimhen at the top of the Super Lig scoring charts with his 10th goal of the season in the same 4-3 game at RAMS Park, moving one clear of the Galatasaray striker, who is stuck on nine goals and three assists from eight league appearances.
What it means for Nigeria
For the Super Eagles, the update changes nothing about the immediate picture — Osimhen will miss the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Tanzania. Nigeria host the Taifa Stars in Uyo on Friday, 13 November, before the return leg in Zanzibar on Tuesday, 17 November.
Head coach Eric Chelle has already named his 24-man squad without Osimhen, and the goalscoring burden now falls on the in-form Tolu Arokodare, Akor Adams and Taiwo Awoniyi. Nigeria sit second in Group L, three points behind Guinea-Bissau, and must win both games to keep their qualification hopes firmly in their own hands.
The hope for both club and country is that the two-week break does its work. Galatasaray return to league action after the international window, and if Osimhen’s knee settles as the doctors hope, the Aston Villa date on 24 November remains in sight. For now, though, the message from Buruk is patience: day by day, no promises, and no risks taken.
For more on the qualifiers, check today’s predictions.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons (public domain, Fédération Guinéenne de Football) — collage by SportsBuddy
