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Ex-Turkish Star Blames Reliant On Victor Osimhen for Galatasaray’s Dip
Former Turkish youth international Erman Toroğlu has pointed the finger squarely at Okan Buruk for Galatasaray’s recent struggles, arguing that the team has become overly reliant on injured striker Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen’s Injury Exposes Weakness
Osimhen has been sidelined since suffering an arm injury during a UEFA Champions League clash against Liverpool FC at Anfield in March. His absence has coincided with a noticeable drop in form for the Istanbul giants.
In their last three league matches, Galatasaray have managed just one win:
2–1 loss to Trabzonspor
3–1 win over Göztepe
1–1 draw with Kocaelispor
Toroğlu’s Criticism of Buruk
Speaking in a strongly worded assessment, Toroğlu accused Buruk of failing to build a balanced squad capable of coping without its star player.
“If you’re stuck with just one player in such a large squad, it’s your fault. Okan Buruk couldn’t manage this team. Osimhen was managing you on the field.”
He also criticized Buruk’s handling of Mauro Icardi, suggesting the striker’s dip in form stems from inconsistent usage and feeling sidelined.
Hope on the Horizon
There is, however, optimism for Galatasaray. Osimhen has returned to training and is reportedly targeting a comeback before the end of the month.
He could feature in the high-stakes derby against Fenerbahçe, with a possible earlier return against Gençlerbirliği.
What It Means
Osimhen’s return could be decisive for Galatasaray’s title push. But Toroğlu’s comments raise a deeper question: can Buruk adapt his system to reduce reliance on one player, or will the team continue to struggle whenever Osimhen is absent?
