Super Eagles star and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has opened up about the lingering effects of the facial injury he suffered in 2021, revealing that it still affects simple daily activities especially the way he eats.
The 26-year-old made the disclosure in a video shared on X on Tuesday while speaking with Turkish outlet Fanatik.
According to him, the injury permanently changed how one side of his face functions. “I now eat only on the right side of my mouth,” Osimhen said. “The left side just doesn’t work the way it used to.”
Osimhen sustained the injury in November 2021 during a Serie A clash between Napoli and Inter Milan after a collision with Milan Škriniar. The impact caused several facial fractures, including breaks to his cheekbone and eye socket, requiring reconstructive surgery where doctors inserted 18 screws and a titanium plate.
There were early fears he might lose sight in his left eye, but although he eventually recovered and continued his career, he now lives with numbness and limited movement on that side of his face.
Looking back on the incident, he explained: “A cross came in from the wing. I went up to head it, and at the last second he pulled his head back. It wasn’t intentional, but my chin slammed into his skull and the bone shattered. They took me to a hospital in Milan first an X-ray, then an MRI. The doctor said I needed surgery. I refused at first, but if I wanted to keep playing football, I had no choice.”
He added that the aftereffects are still very present: “I still feel numbness and sometimes pain. When I smile, only one side of my face moves properly. Eating is the hardest it’s a constant reminder. If I try using the left side, the food just falls out.”
Now at Galatasaray following his move from Napoli, Osimhen has had an impressive season so far, scoring 12 goals and providing five assists in 15 matches across all competitions. His protective mask initially required after surgery remains crucial for him on the pitch due to the lasting damage from the injury.
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