Galatasaray Eyes Aston Villa Match for Osimhen's Return

Galatasaray is aiming for the Champions League home game against Aston Villa on November 24 as the return date for Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, who recently underwent knee surgery. The Turkish champions are cautious about risking him in the Süper Lig match against Samsunspor on November 21, despite his potential fitness for that game.

Osimhen sustained a left knee injury during Galatasaray's 2-0 Champions League victory over VfB Stuttgart on November 3, which was diagnosed as having a loose fragment in the joint. The surgery was performed by club doctor Yener İnce at Maslak Acıbadem Hospital in Istanbul.

Galatasaray vice president Mehmet Cibara described Osimhen's injury as chronic, dismissing claims that the club's pitch contributed to the issue. Consequently, Osimhen will miss Nigeria's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania in Uyo and Zanzibar.

Prior to his injury, he had scored nine goals and provided three assists in eight Süper Lig matches.