Victor Osimhen’s Galatasaray absence: Injury or pay dispute?

A Turkish journalist alleged unpaid wages behind striker’s absence whilst club insists medical precaution sole reason ahead of Juventus return leg

Conflicting explanations have emerged around Victor Osimhen‘s absence from Galatasaray‘s squad during Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Konyaspor, with Turkish journalist Yilmaz Dirim alleging the Nigerian striker refused to play over unpaid salaries whilst the club maintains he was withdrawn purely due to knee pain.

Social media speculation has intensified suggestions that Galatasaray players haven’t received wages for three months, raising questions about whether financial troubles are affecting team morale and selection.

The club moved swiftly to deny those claims, with executives telling Turkish daily Sabah that reports of delayed payments were categorically false and rejecting any link between finances and player availability.

Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk offered his own explanation after the Konyaspor loss, framing Osimhen’s omission as straightforward medical caution following discomfort that emerged after their thrilling 5-2 Champions League victory over Juventus.

“We had played him before with similar pain, but when he said the pain was more severe today, we did not take the risk,” Buruk explained, suggesting the technical staff prioritised protecting their star asset ahead of Wednesday’s crucial second leg in Turin.

Will Osimhen play against Juventus?  

With Wednesday’s game just around the corner, there is still some doubt as to whether Osimhen will play. A post from Galatasaray’s social media accounts on added to the fears that the Nigerian would not be ready for the game after uploading photos from Sunday’s training session.

Despite posting multiple photos of the session, Osimhen did not feature in any of them, fuelling rumours that he would not be available for the big clash with Juventus.

However, on Monday, the Turkish club posted new footage from the session, in which Osimhen was present, allaying the fears of many supporters, although it is still uncertain as to whether he will start.

Record signing on lucrative deal amid financial speculation

The salary dispute allegations carry particular weight given Osimhen‘s contract details. Galatasaray paid a Turkish record €75 million to secure his signature last summer, committing to annual wages of €15 million.

Those substantial figures make any suggestion of non-payment significant, though the club’s firm denials indicate they’re treating such claims seriously enough to publicly refute them.

Osimhen has justified the massive investment through exceptional performances since arriving in Istanbul.

His 15 goals and five assists across Super Lig and Champions League competitions have attracted interest from Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Juventus – all reportedly monitoring his situation should Galatasaray be willing to sell.

That European attention adds complexity to the current situation. Transfer speculation combined with injury concerns and salary dispute rumours creates an unstable environment that clubs struggle managing effectively, particularly when crucial Champions League fixtures loom on the immediate horizon.

The three-goal advantage Galatasaray established through their extraordinary first-leg performance positions them strongly for progression, but eliminating Juventus requires maintaining focus rather than allowing off-field distractions to undermine preparation.

Osimhen’s potential involvement becomes crucial, particularly given he’ll face former coach Luciano Spalletti in what promises to be an entertaining battle on Wednesday.