Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, is set to miss several weeks of action after suffering a hamstring injury during Galatasaray’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Sivasspor in a Turkish Süper Lig game on Sunday.
The forward scored his 10th league goal in the match, was forced to leave the field in the 74th minute, replaced by teammate Victor Nelsson.
Galatasaray confirmed the injury in an official statement on Monday, revealing that Osimhen had experienced pain in his right upper back muscle during the game.
“Osimhen felt pain in his right upper back muscle,” the club said in a statement.
“In the MRI examinations performed at our sponsor hospital Medicana, moderate strain and bleeding were detected in the right upper back muscle group and treatment has started for the player.
Galatasaray did not provided a specific timeline for his recovery, though reports suggest he may return by late December, possibly missing the club’s final match of the year against Kayserispor on December 22.
Osimhen’s injury is a blow for the Turkish giants, as the 25-year-old had been in impressive form, scoring regularly since his deadline-day loan move from Serie A’s Napoli. His performance against Sivasspor, which included a crucial penalty goal, continued to show his importance to the team, despite the setback.
Adding to the injury woes, Galatasaray also confirmed a ligament strain for winger Barış Alper Yilmaz, who was injured in the same match. The club did not provide a return date for him either.
In the aftermath of Osimhen’s performance, former Beşiktaş forward Nihat Kahveci praised the Nigeria international, drawing comparisons to legendary Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
Speaking on Kontraspor’s YouTube channel, Kahveci described Osimhen as “like Ronaldo” due to his exceptional speed and movement, particularly highlighting a moment when Osimhen’s pace and athleticism enabled him to outrun defenders.
“He’s like Cristiano (Ronaldo),” he said.
“I thought I was fast when I was running with him. There’s a sports button in cars, Osimhen is the same. He stretched very well, another centre forward couldn’t easily reach that ball.”
Despite the injury, Osimhen’s impressive form has continued to capture the attention of fans and pundits alike, with many hopeful for his swift recovery.
