Galatasaray issues statement on Rafael Leao's injury

In matchweek 8 of the Trendyol Süper Lig, Galatasaray secured a 1-0 away win over Gençlerbirliği thanks to a goal from Deniz Gül. Rafael Leao started the match on the bench, came on in the 61st minute, and was substituted off again in the 77th minute after just 16 minutes on the pitch.

The Portuguese forward's withdrawal came after an unfortunate incident on the playing surface. During a passage of play, Leao's foot slipped on the ground, causing his leg to overextend and resulting in a groin strain that forced him out of the match.

Galatasaray released an official statement via its club channels regarding the player's health status. The statement noted that Leao had spent the day receiving treatment following the injury, and that his exact condition would become clear after further examinations scheduled for the following day.

Head coach Okan Buruk also commented on the injury after the match, pointing to the poor pitch conditions as the cause. He said the club had been fortunate that the injury was not more serious, particularly with an upcoming Champions League fixture on the horizon.

Buruk further criticized the quality of pitches in the Süper Lig, calling for stricter oversight from the Turkish Football Federation. The coach stressed that such playing surfaces posed a health risk to players from both Galatasaray and Gençlerbirliği.