Nigeria international, Peter Olayinka is set to miss significant game time after undergoing surgery on an Achilles tendon injury, Red Star Belgrade has confirmed.

The forward sustained the injury during last week’s UEFA Champions League match against AS Monaco, forcing him off the field early.

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In an official statement, the Serbian club revealed that Olayinka had surgery in Finland, performed by a renowned specialist.

“Peter Olayinka was successfully operated on in Finland by a famous doctor, following an Achilles tendon injury he suffered in Monaco,” Red Star’s statement read.

“The surgery went smoothly, and we now await his recovery period to assess his return timeline. We wish him a swift recovery and hope to see him back on the field soon.”

Olayinka, who has contributed two goals and two assists across six league appearances this season, is expected to be sidelined for six to nine months as he recovers.

His absence will be felt both by Red Star Belgrade and Nigeria’s national team, where he has been a valuable asset.

The extended recovery period means Olayinka will miss much of Red Star’s season and a portion of Nigeria’s upcoming international fixtures.

Chelsea Football Club of England’s desire to sign Nigerian International, Victor Osimhen during the January transfer window is looking more and more unlikely to happen.

This is coming as the 25-year-old striker on the books of Napoli but on a season-long loan to Turkish giants Galatasaray has expressed a desire to see the loan through.

Osimhen bared his mind, after scoring his fourth goal for Galatasaray in their 2-1 victory against Besiktas in Monday’s Turkish Super Lig Istanbul Derby.

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Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, cited the Nigerian international, thus, on if he would be in Turkey for the second half of the season, “Yes, I am here.”

Biztellers reports that Osimhen has been in scintillating form since joining the Turkish Super Lig leaders on loan from Napoli in September.

He has netted in three consecutive league games, including a spectacular overhead kick against Antalyaspor last weekend.

His latest goal came in the 67th minute against Besiktas, when he expertly headed home Gabriel Sara’s cross to double Galatasaray’s lead before the visitors pulled one back in stoppage time.

Osimhen’s clarification became necessary because of Chelsea’s sustained interest in his services, as the Blues continues the search for a proven striker who can guarantee at least 20 goals per season.

Those that matter at the London side see Osimhen as the ideal candidate to solve their striker problems.

This is even as the former Lille forward’s performances in Turkey have caught the attention of Chelsea legends John Mikel Obi and Didier Drogba, who have both endorsed him as an ideal signing for their former club.

Okan Buruk’s Galatasaray have benefitted significantly from Osimhen’s presence, with the striker contributing four goals and four assists in just six appearances.

Osimhen’s contributions have helped the team to the top the Turkish Super Lig standings with 28 points from 10 matches, maintaining an impressive run of eight wins and two draws in their last 10 games across all competitions.

The victory over Besiktas has helped Galatasaray open a six-point gap ahead of second-placed Samsunspor, while the defeated remain fourth with 20 points.

With Osimhen confirming his commitment to Galatasaray until the summer, Chelsea may have to wait until 2025 to secure the services of the former Lille player, who continues to enhance his reputation in Turkish football.

Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri has been awarded the men’s Ballon d’Or, capping a standout season where he was pivotal in securing Manchester City’s fourth consecutive Premier League title and led Spain to victory at Euro 2024.

However, the award ceremony in Paris was marked by Real Madrid’s absence as the Spanish club staged a boycott over Vinicius Junior’s exclusion from the top prize.

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Rodri’s win, announced during the glamorous ceremony at the Châtelet Theatre on Monday night, was unexpected to many, as Real Madrid’s Vinicius had been widely seen as a favorite following a stellar season that saw Madrid claim both La Liga and Champions League titles.

Accepting the award, Rodri expressed gratitude toward his teammates and coaches, saying, “It’s an honor to be here, and I owe so much to my club and country. Football is a team effort, and I’m here because of the dedication of everyone around me.”

The evening also saw Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati win her second consecutive women’s Ballon d’Or, following a season in which she led Barcelona to a historic quadruple and helped Spain secure the Nations League title.

Hours before the ceremony, the club released a statement confirming it would not attend, citing “disrespect” toward Vinicius.

Madrid suggested that if the award did not go to Vinicius, it should have been awarded to Dani Carvajal, who scored a crucial goal in Madrid’s Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund.

“If the award criteria don’t favor Vinicius, then they should favor Carvajal,” the club stated to AFP. “Since that is not the case, it’s clear the Ballon d’Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid will not attend an event where it is not respected.”

Organizers from the Amaury group, which oversees the Ballon d’Or through L’Équipe and France Football, dismissed rumors of a leaked result, emphasizing that “no player or club” was informed in advance.

An international jury of 100 journalists ultimately selected Rodri from a competitive shortlist, but the decision stirred controversy among fans and insiders alike.

While Real Madrid’s star-studded list of nominees, including Kylian Mbappe, Antonio Rudiger, Fede Valverde, and Jude Bellingham, highlighted the club’s achievements, the exclusion of Vinicius left a contentious note on the night’s celebrations.