Victor Osimhen‘s physical condition and readiness for matches remain a hot topic in Turkish football circles.
According to Turkish football expert Serdar Ali Celikler, Osimhen’s prolonged absence following his injury was influenced more by public perception than medical necessity. Celikler suggests the striker intentionally extended his recovery period to avoid being perceived as disloyal by Nigerian fans.
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Osimhen suffered an injury during the World Cup qualifying match against Rwanda, which sidelined him for the subsequent fixture against South Africa.
Without Osimhen, Nigeria was held to a draw by Bafana Bafana, a result that complicated their path to World Cup qualification.
The former Napoli forward only made a brief comeback recently, featuring for the final 10 minutes in the match against Antalyaspor last Friday. Celikler opines that Osimhen could have returned sooner but chose not to due to concerns about how it would be perceived.
“Financial concerns are not an issue for Osimhen,” Celikler explained to GsGazette. “He avoided rushing back because he returned injured from national duty. He didn’t want to be labeled a betrayer by his compatriots if he played immediately after coming back. He is now included in the squad for the Alanyaspor game, and there are no problems whatsoever.”
In related news, Osimhen might feature in the upcoming Champions League match against Liverpool this week, provided he clears a final fitness evaluation. Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk confirmed that the striker has been training effectively.