Victor Osimhen’s Champions League campaign is over, and his immediate future is now in the hands of surgeons, after Galatasaray confirmed on Wednesday night that the Super Eagles striker fractured his right forearm during their 4-0 second leg defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, Footynaija.com reports.
The injury happened in the 11th minute, when Osimhen landed awkwardly after going up for a header and took the full impact on his right wrist as he hit the turf. He left the field for treatment and returned with a bandage on his arm, but what followed was painful to watch.
He was barely able to hold his position, and spent the remainder of the first half shooting glances at the Galatasaray bench.
The situation took a nasty turn when Liverpool players, apparently suspecting him of time-wasting, tried to haul him to his feet.
Osimhen reacted furiously, nearly coming to blows with Dominik Szoboszlai before Lemina stepped in. He was replaced by Leroy Sane at halftime and did not return.
Galatasaray’s medical team confirmed post-match that hospital examinations revealed a fracture in the right forearm. The arm has been placed in a cast, and a decision on whether surgery will be required is expected in the coming days following further assessments.
A cruel end to a brilliant run
Teammate Noa Lang also sustained a serious laceration to his right thumb in the second half and is reportedly set to undergo surgery in Liverpool.
Osimhen ended his Champions League season with seven goals and three assists in ten matches, the numbers that put him among the competition’s top performers at any position.
He scored in the league phase against Liverpool in Istanbul, helped dismantle Juventus 5-2 in the playoffs and was the heartbeat of a Galatasaray side that had no business going as far as they did on paper.
Without him, the second leg fell apart almost immediately. Liverpool dominated, and Galatasaray offered little once their greatest threat failed to appear for the second half.
The timing could not be worse for Nigeria either. Osimhen was already absent from Chelle’s March squad for the Turkey friendlies, and a fracture that may require surgery puts his availability for any football before the summer in serious doubt.
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