The Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen, Galatasaray’s record signing for €75 million from Napoli, will not feature in the first match of the Turkish Super Lig season but is expected back next Friday. Coach Okan Buruk defended the decision to leave Osimhen out of the squad’s 3-0 win over Gaziantep, citing a short pre-season training period for the striker. “We had just five or six days of training; it was not safe to rush him into action,” Buruk said. Osimhen himself agreed to rest in preparation for fuller participation soon.
Osimhen’s arrival marks a historic moment as he becomes the most expensive player in Turkish football history, earning a hefty salary and image rights. His previous loan stint was highly successful, and fans eagerly await his debut this season.
Shortly after his arrival, an unrelated controversy arose when Turkey’s Bulut Mosque was erroneously renamed after Osimhen on Google Maps, causing offense among local worshippers. Congregants argued that the mosque, established in 2008 in Konya’s Karatay district, should not be renamed after a non-Muslim and footballer with no ties to the mosque or city. This digital faux pas has led to demands that authorities intervene to restore the mosque’s rightful title.
There is no evidence Osimhen is connected to the renaming; the change appears to stem from mistaken edits online. Meanwhile, Osimhen focuses on his fitness and is poised to draw the attention of league opponents as he reenters competitive play.