Galatasaray have clarified the reason behind the omission of Victor Osimhen from their squad for Tuesday's Ziraat Turkish Cup clash against Alanyaspor.

The Nigerian striker was left out of the travelling party to Alanyaspor as part of a planned recovery programme.

In a statement shared on X, the Turkish champions revealed that Osimhen is currently undergoing individualized training for active recovery. 

The club also confirmed that Uğurcan Çakır, Davinson Sánchez, Abdülkerim Bardakcı and Mario Lemina have been placed on similar personalized training schedules, aimed at maintaining fitness levels and managing workload during a busy period.

"Uğurcan Çakır, Davinson Sánchez, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Victor Osimhen, and Mario Lemina have been placed on individualized training programs for active recovery," the club wrote on social media. 

Osimhen's absence comes despite his impressive form this season, with the Super Eagles forward registering 17 goals and six assists in 25 appearances across all competitions.

The 27-year-old will now have to wait longer to make his season debut in the Turkish Cup, having also missed previous fixtures against Başakşehir, Fethiyespor and İstanbulspor due to his involvement with the Super Eagles at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. 

His absence is expected to be a significant setback for the Yellow-Reds as they aim to successfully defend the domestic title they lifted in the 2024/2025 season.

Adeyemi Adewale