Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has been advised to give Victor Osimhen a well-deserved rest ahead of Saturday’s Istanbul derby against Basaksehir, following the striker’s intense international duty with Nigeria.
The suggestion came from Now Spor commentator Veli Yigit, who believes the Nigerian forward is fatigued after his recent matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Osimhen scored a stunning hat-trick as Nigeria defeated Benin Republic 4-0 in Uyo, just days after featuring against Lesotho.
Yigit explained that although Osimhen is in excellent form and mentally focused, he needs time to recover before returning to club action. “I don’t think Osimhen should be in the starting eleven for the Başakşehir match. He’s been through a tiring period after national team duty,” Yigit said, as quoted by Habersarikirmizi.
He added that the 26-year-old forward looks happier and more settled at Galatasaray, no longer distracted by transfer speculation or contract discussions. “I see Osimhen very happy. His complete focus is on Galatasaray. He no longer has thoughts like ‘Where will I go?’ or ‘What will my contract be like?’ These details are important,” Yigit said.
Yigit concluded by expressing confidence that Osimhen would deliver a high-level performance for the Turkish champions once he fully recovers. “I expect a performance beyond the top level from him,” he added, praising the striker’s professionalism and positive mindset.
