Galatasaray midfielder Lucas Torreira was physically assaulted outside a cafe in Turkey on May 12, 2026, sustaining injuries to his head and face, according to reports from GiveMeSport. The Uruguayan international has since confirmed his intention to file a lawsuit and formal complaint against his attacker, who has been apprehended by police.
The incident occurred around 18:00 at the Rixos Hotel on Taşkızak Shipyard Street in Istanbul’s Camiikebir Neighborhood. Torreira, 30, was punched on the left side of his head, resulting in grazes and swelling around his left eye. His driver, Eray Saylan, and friend, David Caceres, were present and intervened to separate the assailant.
Recounting the events, Torreira described being approached by a man who initially asked for a photo. “After taking a photo with him, I saw another man approaching me and thought he also wanted to take a photo,” Torreira stated. “After the man approached me, he suddenly punched the left side of my head; I didn’t understand what was happening. I tried to protect myself.” The midfielder added that his head was hurting due to the incident and confirmed his decision to pursue legal action against the individual.
Attacker’s motive revealed
As reported by GiveMeSport, the attacker’s motive stemmed from a deeply personal and disturbing obsession. The assailant confessed to harboring unrequited feelings for a woman who had previously obtained a restraining order against him. His animosity towards Torreira reportedly began a year prior, after seeing photos of the woman with the footballer on Instagram.
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“I started harboring hatred toward Torreira after seeing photos of the woman I had feelings for with Torreira on Instagram a year ago,” the attacker explained, adding that he had previously posted about Torreira on his Twitter account due to this hatred. Upon learning from an Instagram post by Torreira and his family that they were at the Rixos Hotel, the attacker stated he went to the location “in a moment of rage, intending to harm Torreira.” He then admitted, “As soon as I saw Torreira, I punched him in the face once.”
Torreira joined Galatasaray from Arsenal in 2022 and has since become a pivotal figure for the Turkish giants. In his four seasons with the club, he has made 175 appearances and contributed to Galatasaray winning the Turkish league title in each of those campaigns. The club and Torreira are expected to provide further updates as the legal process unfolds.
Sources: www.givemesport.com
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