Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has cautioned Victor Osimhen against pushing himself to feature in Monday’s crucial showdown with Fenerbahce, SportPremi reports.
The Turkish champions clash against rivals Fenerbahce in the first installment of the Intercontinental Derby for the 2025-26 season at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Monday evening.
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen could make his return for the Lions in the clash, after recovering from an injury suffered during the international break with his country.
The 26-year-old came off at halftime in his nation’s CAF playoff final defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier this month and returned immediately to Turkey for further treatment.
He has missed the club’s last two matches, the 3-2 win over Genclerbirligi in the league and a 1-0 defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise in the UEFA Champions League.
The former Napoli forward has been in scintillating form for the club this season and could make his return to action in the top of the table clash on Monday.
Buruk advises Osimhen ahead of Fenerbahce clash
Galatasaray have missed the impact of Victor Osimhen and will be eager to have him back in action following a brief spell on the sidelines.
However, manager Okan Buruk has cautioned the Nigerian forward against rushing his return, stressing that doing so could worsen the injury.
“No aggression. We will remain calm and finish the match with 11 men. We may be missing a lot, but if you experience a problem, think about your health first”, the manager revealed.
“I’m aware that our team is missing a lot right now. However, if you experience pain or any other issues during a match, you don’t have to hesitate to return to the bench.
“You need to think about your own health first. There’s no need to harm yourself while trying to help the team. Of course, I have no doubt you’ll do your best, we should play throughout the fight without letting our nerves get nervous. We are going there as a leader”, Buruk added.
What to expect from Intercontinental Derby
Fenerbahce are second in the Turkish Super League with 31 points and welcome league leaders Galatasaray, who are ahead by a single point on Monday.
The Yellow Canaries are winless in their last three meetings with the champions, while their last home victory in this clash came in 2022.
The home side are the in-form team going into the clash, but will be missing several key players ahead of the match.
Galatasaray, on the other hand, will hope to bounce back from defeat in their previous outing and will be buoyed by the potential return of talisman Victor Osimhen.
