PAOK forward Cedi Osman tears right knee meniscus, to undergo surgery

The diagnosis

PAOK's Turkish forward Cedi Osman had an MRI scan on the morning of Wednesday, 4 November, after feeling discomfort in his right knee. The scan showed a tear of the meniscus in the right knee, according to the club's statement. The 31-year-old will undergo surgery, and the club said the operation would be carried out in the coming days. Sports outlets described the news as a significant blow for PAOK, and iefimerida called Osman the team's leader. The club has not said how long he will be sidelined, and no exact surgery date has been given beyond 'the coming days'.

Club statement

PAOK's statement said the whole squad is standing behind him and wished him a speedy recovery. In the statement, the club wrote:

“Our whole team stands by Cedi Osman, wishes him a speedy recovery and a quick return to the playing field.”

The club also said the planned operation is needed to repair the injury. The statement did not describe the rehabilitation period that will follow the procedure, so the timing of his return remains open. Until the surgery is carried out, the length of his absence from PAOK's games is unknown.

Form this season

NEWS 24/7 reported Osman's numbers from this season. In six EuroCup games, he averaged 22.2 points, 4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals. The same outlet said he had averaged 18.2 points in Greece, but the article gave no period for that figure. Osman moved to Thessaloniki this summer, and the injury arrives while the club is still relying on him as one of its leading players. The statistics show that his scoring was central to the team's output in the competitions he played.

Panathinaikos reaction

Panathinaikos, where Osman played as a forward before joining PAOK this summer, also reacted on social media. The Athens club addressed him directly and wrote:

“We look forward to seeing you back on the pitch, strong.”

The message was posted on the club's social media accounts and wished the former forward a quick recovery. The post was the only reaction from Panathinaikos cited in the articles.

What remains open

The club has not confirmed the duration of Osman's absence, and the surgery date has not been announced. The articles say only that the operation will happen in the coming days, which leaves the return timeline unclear. Osman's name appears in the statements as Cedi Osman, and the club's message ties his recovery to a return to the playing area. Further updates from PAOK after the operation are expected to clarify how long he will be out.