On March 18, 2026, Liverpool defeated the Turkish champions 4-0 at Anfield, completing a 4-1 aggregate to go to the quarterfinals, ending Galatasaray's Champions League dreams. Victor Osimhen, the great striker for Galatasaray, suffered a fractured right forearm in an aerial collision with Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté early in the first half, which made the loss worse. The 27-year-old Nigerian showed perseverance by playing for a short while despite having a bandaged arm, but as the agony increased at halftime, he was replaced. Following a hospital evaluation, Galatasaray confirmed the fracture and declared that surgery would come after more testing.
During Galatasaray's temporary hiatus, Osimhen visited Nigeria and appeared on a Twitch broadcast alongside influencer Carter Efe. He described a 4-6 week recuperation window and verified the necessity of surgery.
On March 22, Osimhen returned to Istanbul and underwent more scans to complete the surgical plan. According to Galatasaray and local publications, the procedure might be completed in 48–72 hours, depending on the evaluation of the fracture and swelling. Although a cautious approach was initially contemplated, surgery is now considered required.
In his Monday column, renowned Turkish pundit Levent Tüzemen pointed out that the particular surgical technique might enable Osimhen to return sooner than anticipated. "Galatasaray has adapted to Osimhen's style," he said, highlighting the striker's significance. Goalie and scorer are both important. Osimhen scores or creates goals while Uğurcan makes saves. It will take more than a month to feel his absence.
With Lang on the left, a Yunus-Sane-Sallai possibility on the right, and Barış spearheading the assault, Tüzemen anticipates Galatasaray adjusting. The Istanbul derby against Fenerbahçe on April 26 will be affected by Osimhen's absence.
