Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk has shed light on his decision to bench Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen in their recent Turkish Super Lig clash against Gaziantep. The move raised eyebrows among fans, as the Super Eagles forward has been a consistent starter since joining the club.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Buruk clarified that the decision was purely tactical and partly influenced by the team’s congested fixture schedule.
“Osimhen is a key player for us, but we have to manage his minutes carefully,” Buruk said. “We have important games coming up, and we didn’t want to risk fatigue or injury. Gaziantep is a side we expected to defend deep, so we opted for a different attacking setup to stretch their backline.”
Osimhen, who eventually came on in the second half, made an immediate impact, using his pace and strength to trouble the Gaziantep defence. Though he didn’t get on the scoresheet, his presence created space for other forwards and helped Galatasaray secure a vital win.
The Nigerian international has been in red-hot form this season, scoring consistently in both domestic and European competitions. His brief benching, according to Buruk, was not a reflection of performance but part of a long-term strategy to keep the squad fresh and competitive.
Fans have expressed mixed feelings about the decision some praising Buruk for thinking ahead, others eager to see Osimhen start every match. Regardless, the coach made it clear that the striker remains central to Galatasaray’s title ambitions.
