Galatasaray Coach Buruk Admits Fear Whenever Osimhen Leaves for Nigeria Duty

By Diafa Doubra,

Galatasaray manager, Okan Buruk, has admitted that he always feels uneasy whenever Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen travels to represent the Super Eagles.

Buruk’s concerns deepened over the weekend after Osimhen sustained a knock during Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda in a World Cup qualifying match. Speaking in an interview with Now Spor, the Turkish coach said he first heard about the injury while at dinner, when a waiter showed him the update on his phone.

“I always have fears about sending him to the national team,” Buruk said. “Tonight, we experienced that fear again. The information we received is that he has pain in his foot.”

Reports indicate that Osimhen may now miss Nigeria’s upcoming clash against South Africa as a precaution. Buruk, however, stressed that Galatasaray is closely monitoring the situation.

“If there is a problem with Osimhen, we want to send a plane immediately and bring him back to Türkiye,” he explained. “We hope it’s nothing serious.”

Osimhen, who joined Galatasaray in a record transfer deal earlier this year, has been instrumental in the club’s attack. His injury scare has once again highlighted the tension between club managers and national teams over the risks players face during international duty.