Galatasaray's €105 million stars injured: spotlight turns to the RAMS Park pitch

The injuries suffered by Victor Osimhen and Rafael Leão at Galatasaray have once again put the RAMS Park pitch at the centre of debate. The two stars, for whom the Yellow-Reds paid a combined €113 million in transfer fees, now have a current market value of €105 million. Osimhen's knee surgery following the Stuttgart match and Leão's injury in the weekend's Amedspor game have fuelled criticism of the playing conditions. What has drawn particular attention is that the surface, relaid at a cost of around €600,000 during the international break in September, has so quickly started causing problems again.

The Galatasaray board had carried out an extensive renovation during the international break to resolve the turf problems that emerged at RAMS Park at the start of the season. However, the lack of sufficient time for the new hybrid turf to bed in fully has raised questions. One of the most criticised points is that the pitch was replaced during a period of congested fixtures rather than at the end of the season.

Osimhen, signed by the Yellow-Reds from Napoli for €75 million, is expected to return to action towards the end of November following his knee operation. The Nigerian striker, who has recorded 9 goals and 3 assists in 8 matches this season, has a market value of €65 million. Leão, who joined from Milan for €38 million, is expected to be sidelined for at least a month with a thigh injury.

Separately, journalist Bülent Timurlenk claimed that a planned special protective cover project, intended to prevent the high temperatures in the stadium from damaging the pitch, had not been implemented. Timurlenk questioned whether the installation had been abandoned because of the remaining cost, despite a €50,000 advance payment having been made for the cover, and pointed out that the pitch had been replaced during an international break, when there was not enough time for the grass to take root.