Leroy Sané (29, Bayern Munich) is finally settling in Turkey. Following his surprise transfer news, Galatasaray SK fans created an enthusiastic welcoming atmosphere while tracking his flight path in real-time.
European football transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano noted on the 12th (Korean time), "Leroy Sané is transferring to Galatasaray. He has boarded a flight to Istanbul and is expected to sign a contract after the medical test."
Galatasaray Football Club also announced through the Turkish Public Disclosure Platform (KAP), "We have officially commenced negotiations to acquire professional football player Leroy Aziz Sané," making their official stance on the transfer.
Germany's Bild reported, "Sané is currently on a flight to Istanbul, and after completing the medical test upon arrival, he will sign the contract promptly." Enthusiasm among Galatasaray fans was high. The club's official YouTube channel broadcast a live flight tracker for Sané, with over 1 million fans watching. The broadcast then switched to live coverage from the airport, where a large banner reading "Welcome ('Herzlich Willkommen')" was displayed. The number of live viewers exceeded 2 million.
Negotiations for a contract renewal between Bayern Munich and Sané had shown positive prospects until recently, but ultimately fell through. Florian Plettenberg, a reporter for German 'Sky Sports', reported, "Sané has rejected Bayern's upgraded contract renewal offer and is negotiating with Galatasaray."
The UK 'Daily Mail' reported, "Sané has informed Bayern that he will not renew the contract. He is preparing for a contract with Galatasaray worth up to £10.16 million (approximately 18.8 billion won) annually." The contract is expected to span 3 years, indicating a longer than anticipated duration playing in the Turkish league.
Sané's move has also impacted big clubs in Europe. Recently, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham all showed interest in signing Sané and attempted to make contact, but his decision to go to Turkey thwarted those efforts. Sané's agent is reported to have had discussions with these clubs as well. In particular, Arsenal's head coach Mikel Arteta, who was keen on strengthening the wing attack, finds this result disappointing.
After transferring from Manchester City to Bayern in 2020, Sané was part of a squad that won four consecutive Bundesliga titles and was expected to be a key asset in the Club World Cup. However, this decision means Bayern will miss out on a key player.
Galatasaray has recently been focusing on restructuring its attacking line-up. Following the departure of Victor Osimhen, who was on loan from SSC Napoli, the club has been pursuing Sané as a replacement, and they achieved a satisfactory result by acquiring him on a free transfer.
The Turkish league has recently emerged as a new destination for stars from the Premier League. However, it is considered an extraordinary case for a player, like Sané, who remains competitive in the top leagues to choose Turkey.
Attention is now focused on the Turkish Super League. With Sané's addition, Galatasaray has built an even more powerful attacking formation for both European competitions and league play.
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