We must give credit where credit is due, Galatasaray made some good signings this year. While we can’t say they were all perfect, the majority were. First, I’d like to briefly share my thoughts on the 13 transfers. I’m categorizing them and sharing them below. First, let’s see the list, which includes the clubs they came from, their positions, and their costs:
1) Perfect transfers:
a) Dries Mertens: One of Galatasaray’s best signings this year. For about five years, we’ve struggled to find a player who truly fits the number 10 role. Many years have passed since Sneijder, and we’ve finally found that special player. After Metin Oktay, Georghe Hagi, and Wesley Sneijder, the players who best suit the number 10, I hope we’ll add Dries Mertens to this list. With his technique, game intelligence, impact on goals, and team direction, Mertens acts like an on-field coach, just like other number 10s. That’s why he was Napoli’s most influential player for years and earned the admiration of even a soccer legend like Maradona. Welcome, Mertens.
b) Lucas Torreira: We were lacking a defensive midfielder with good technique, a playmaker from the back, but also a fierce defender. We’ve seen Torreira be a very useful player in every game he’s played. I hope he serves Galatasaray for many years, like his compatriot Muslera.
c) Fredrik Midtsjø: He played for a short time and got injured quickly. In his short time, he showed us he’s a good player, both defensively and offensively. He also could carry the game forward, which is what we need most, along with his Scandinavian composure and diligence.
d) Yusuf Demir: When he transferred from Rapid Vienna to Barcelona, I wished he had played for us. Finally, this year, he finally got his chance. I congratulate those who put in the thought and effort. Whether he was playing for Galatasaray or transferring from Galatasaray, he was a player who could have benefited us in every way. I hope he plays for us for at least three years, develops his game, and then makes us proud by transferring to one of Europe’s biggest clubs for a good transfer fee. I also condemn those who didn’t include Yusuf Demir in the Turkish National Team. They’ve once again shown us that Turkish soccer has a shortage of managers with insufficient vision and high egos.
e) Milot Rashica: Frankly, I saw him play for Galatasaray for the first time. I liked his dynamic style of play, his quick thinking and quick actions. Based on my online research, I can say we’ve signed a good young player. Players with potential are always good. Of course, it’s too early to comment, but I can say his performance in his first game showed promise.
2) Things I’m unsure about:
a) Haris Seferović: He was a player I liked when he played for Benfica. However, his game has declined over the years. If he overcomes his mental issues and doesn’t have any unknown injuries, he would be a great asset to Galatasaray. Otherwise, he’ll fade away at our club and be transferred to a lower-tier team later. His physicality and game intelligence are especially positive. I hope he doesn’t waste his talent. If he strengthens mentally and physically, he’ll regain his form.
b) Sergio Oliveira: A technically sound and good player. However, he’s weak and can’t fight much. If you think he compensates for his lack of defensive ability by making extra moves in attack, that’s not entirely the case. He constantly hits the post. I hope he improves his game at Galatasaray, contributes more to the score, and is especially effective as a midfielder, especially on the defensive side of the game.
c) Mathias Ross Jensen: I’ve never seen this player play either. So, I’m not sure. From what I’ve read and watched online, he’s a young, promising, and physically strong player. I hope he can fill the role like Nelsson and be a valuable asset to Galatasaray in every way.
3) Unnecessary transfers (in order of least necessity):
a) Mauro Icardi: Contrary to what everyone says, in my opinion, Galatasaray’s worst signing this year. He has the potential to be a fiasco like Falcao, and I think Falcao was a better player in every respect. Of course, there’s also the problem of creating chaos in the environment he enters. He’s a player who could disrupt the idea of building a close-knit, competitive team this year. I don’t think Icardi was needed where Gomis was. A transfer from Umut Bozok would have been much more beneficial. It would have also been a financial advantage.
b) Abdülkerim Bardakçı: I don’t think it’s worth competing with teams like Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş and shelling out €3 million just to acquire a Turkish player. I don’t think Abdülkerim is a player who can play in Galatasaray’s starting eleven right now. He makes very simple mistakes, and because he’s in the center of defense, those mistakes lead directly to goals for us. He also gets booked too often. I appreciate his effort, but he needs to act more professionally on the field.
c) Kazımcan Karataş: He was brought in as a young player with potential, but I didn’t see anything in his time on the field. He looks like an even worse signing than Abdülkerim. Our only consolation is his youth and the potential to improve his game. I hope this happens and he becomes a constant and useful player in the starting eleven. Even if he’s a young player, you expect him to come on at least every game or show his potential. We haven’t seen those flashes of brilliance yet during his short playing time. And when he doesn’t play at all, you question the transfer.
d) Léo Dubois: The French national team player’s epaulettes have certainly raised expectations in us all. We haven’t seen any significant additional play during his playing time. He’s also been injured very recently. I hope he recovers quickly and becomes a valuable asset. Otherwise, he’ll be among the worst signings. Thankfully, Sacha Boey’s recovery has come to our rescue, and he’s improved his game from last year by making extra contributions at right-back. Otherwise, the right-back position would have been a serious problem for us.
e) Juan Mata: No one can fault his career, his playing intelligence, and his contributions to the teams he played for. However, the fact that Juan Mata was among the latest transfers, when he was almost in retirement mode and hadn’t trained for a long time, leaves me with many questions. Making such a transfer after Mertens, who was the brains of the team, was a waste of resources in my opinion. Still, we’ll see what happens. I hope it works.
4) Transfers I wish had been made (in order of my most desired):
a) Henry Onyekuru: Onyekuru always makes a difference with his pace. Frankly, watching him play for Adanademirspor makes me sad. If he were at Galatasaray, even for a fourth stint, he would still be making the most of his contributions. The great player’s only drawback is that he needs managers who understand and support him mentally. Fatih Terim did this for years and often proved effective; Okan Buruk could do the same job this time. With Onyekuru’s arrival, we could have created a serious alternative for Kerem and Yunus (perhaps he would have been a starting eleven player ahead of them), encouraging them to get their act together and put in a strong effort every game. With Onyekuru, Galatasaray’s attacking variety would have been significantly increased, and in some games, the attacks or counterattacks we needed to achieve would have made us a team capable of creating danger at any moment. It’s a shame.
b) Mert Müldür: He’s my favorite Turkish defender. His physicality, game intelligence, and pursuit would have been beneficial to Galatasaray for many years. At 1.88 meters tall, he would have helped fill a gap in Galatasaray’s defense, which struggled with aerial ball possession. He should have been transferred, even if it was more expensive, instead of Léo Dubois. The Turkish player quota would have been very beneficial to us. Furthermore, being an Austrian, he would have gotten along well with Yusuf Demir. I think it’s a matter of planning that Mert Müldür, who grew up with a European culture and work ethic and possesses the skills to play central defense if necessary, wasn’t transferred from Sassulo, and Kaan Ayhan was chosen instead.
c) Orkun Kökçü: He’s one of my favorite players on the Turkish National Team. This talented Dutch-Turkish player, who came through Feyenoord’s youth academy and currently plays for Feyenoord’s senior team, possesses the skills and game vision to be the brains of the team, like Mertens. At just 21 years old and already leading and guiding one of the best teams in the Netherlands, like Feyenoord, this young talent has great potential. He could develop his skills alongside all the other top-tier players at Galatasaray, and in two or three years, he could be transferred to a top-tier team in a top league like England for a hefty transfer fee. Furthermore, his Turkish status would have eased our grip on the rule of fielding three Turkish players per game. Like Mert Müldür, I absolutely believe he should have been transferred.
d) Edinson Cavani: We said it would be beneficial if Seferovic recovered mentally. But in any case, Edinson Cavani is the player who can contribute at a higher level than Seferović. In my opinion, he’s still one of the best strikers in Europe. The fact that Uruguayan Cavani, his fellow team captain, Muslera, and Torreira are playing for us would have helped him adapt quickly. If he’d been forced to buy, the cost could have been recouped from the jersey sale. It’s a shame Cavani transferred to our troublesome Valencia. Cavani would have been more effective with a good, quick small forward. In games where they’d play two strikers, a Cavani-Gomis or Cavani-Umut Bozok combination would have given us plenty of goals.
e) Umut Bozok: Umut Bozok, a French Turk who was top scorer in the Turkish League last year and declared, “I’m a Galatasaray fan,” would have been both a viable alternative to Gomis (or perhaps Gomis would have been a viable alternative to Umut Bozok) and a surefire contributor with a goal or an assist in every game he played. Trabzonspor, making another successful signing this year, managed to acquire Umut Bozok in the final weeks of the transfer window. Not signing this player, who has proven himself so well, who has been raised with a European culture and work ethic, and who possesses significant potential, is a failure on Galatasaray’s part.
f) Luis Suarez: Luis Suarez, one of Uruguay’s greatest strikers of all time, moved from Atletico Madrid to Nacional, one of Uruguay’s leading clubs, this year. Frankly, despite his 35 years, Luis Suarez, a striker like Cavani who still has the potential to be productive, could have been a good replacement. Had he spent two years with Muslera and Torreira, he could have made significant contributions to Galatasaray in the Turkish League and Europe. I admired his goals in every season he played. In the final stages of his European career, he led Atletico Madrid to the championship with his incredible effort. We would have enjoyed watching him play here.
g) Anthony Nwakaeme: Trabzonspor didn’t want a player like Onyekuru, who can play on the other wing, who, in my opinion, has two more years to play, and whose creative potential is unpredictable. It would have been a significant benefit if he had come to us instead of going to Arab countries. He knows the Super League and is familiar with everything he does. Nwakaeme took his career to the highest level at Trabzonspor and then destroyed it. If he had come to Galatasaray, he would have at least had the opportunity to continue raising his bar and showcase his skills in Europe next year.
h) A fast and tall defender (local or foreign): We need to sign a fast, tall, and technically sound defender for the center of defense. By tall, I mean someone over 1.90 meters tall. We’ll see if Mathias Ross Jensen can fill this gap, but I think more research could have been done on this matter and a perfect signing could have been made.
Assessment of Departures
Looking at Galatasaray’s departures, I think all the decisions made regarding those leaving were sound, except for Emre Kılınç. It’s worth noting that Okan Hoca didn’t get enough out of Emre, as he’s a full back who can be quite useful to the team. Kılınç, with his goal-scoring potential, can also contribute significantly to the team’s defense. Emre Taşdemir could have been a replacement. In my opinion, Taşdemir, a defender who has no value, could have been sold or loaned to another team, thus relieving him of his financial burden. Galatasaray left the wrong Emre this year. Also, Halit Dervişoğlu, from last year’s squad, could have been loaned out again or even bought out on a free transfer. Halit, with his quickness and constant pursuit, was a player who caused chaos up front, constantly putting Galatasaray in scoring positions. If he could improve his finishing touches (which he would do by working with the squad), he had the potential to be sold to European giants for a significant price. Anyway, I feel sorry for both Emre Kılınç and Halit Dervişoğlu, but for now, I wish him all the best. We needed to sign a Turkish striker like Umut Bozok or Halit Dervişoğlu. I’m also sharing a list of players whose departures I consider a good thing: Marcao (Marcos do Nascimento Teixeira), Aytaç Kara, Mbaye Diagne, Alpaslan Öztürk, Valentine Ozornwafor, Olimpiu Morutan, Alexandru Cicaldau, Mostafa Mohamed, Emre Akbaba, Taylan Antalyalı, Ömer Bayram, and Oğulcan Çağlayan.
I’m also sharing a news article on this topic. Here are the transfers not only from Galatasaray but also from the Big Four: https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/sporarena/super-ligde-biten-tum-transferler-2022-2023-besiktas-fenerbahce-galatasaray-trabzonspor-42134503
In total, the Big Four (Galatasaray, Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe, and Trabzonspor) made 49 transfers this year. Galatasaray made 6 transfers in midfield alone. I hope these transfers meet expectations for all teams.
Will the championship be the outcome?
After all these transfers, the expectation at Galatasaray is, of course, the championship. But do things always go as planned? Of course not. In the Super League, surprises can sometimes occur, and sometimes the results everyone expected can emerge.
The referees’ attitude can determine the champion. From what I’ve observed this year, the referees are making slightly more lenient decisions in favor of Başakşehir and Fenerbahçe. Of course, we’re still at the start of the league, so maybe the tide will turn, but small details in games can affect the outcome. And of course, there’s the rumor that Fenerbahçe president Ali Koç has reached an agreement with the government, and they will make Fenerbahçe champions this year, the centennial of the Republic.
I hope this is just a rumor. In a developed country, such a rumor would be perceived as utterly absurd, and people would simply laugh it off. It would be unthinkable for politics to influence national soccer, and sporting activities in the country would be managed independently by professionals working in this field. Unfortunately, we don’t have such an ideal situation here. As everyone knows, the government has influence in soccer, the country’s most popular sport, and even in other sports. We saw this clearly in the federation presidential elections. That’s why we can’t ignore such a rumor, which would normally be considered absurd.
Looking at our own team, Galatasaray has built a team above the Super League and is currently a leading contender for the championship. However, whether they succeed in becoming a team and become a dynamic team that gives opponents no breathing room, puts pressure on them, presses them forward, and spreads the team’s defense throughout the field remains to be seen.
Factors that go beyond just directors
Here, I’d like to mention Coach Okan Buruk. I know him personally. It’s hard to find someone who is both good at their job and good at their job in this country. Okan Hoca embodies these two qualities. I believe his choice of manager was the right one. In every respect, the best possible manager has been appointed to lead Galatasaray. That’s why I’m comfortable. However, some tasks go beyond the manager. Here are some factors that go beyond the manager’s control:
1) Turkish referees: The attitudes of Turkish referees, notorious for their biased behavior, can directly affect the outcome of games.
2) Financial discipline: Players’ salaries must be paid on time. Otherwise, the performance of players who are dissatisfied with this situation can significantly decline throughout the season.
3) Private life in Istanbul: The interest shown by single players (sometimes married players make similar mistakes) in Istanbul’s nightlife and the numerous girls (who generally don’t do anything and emphasize their physical attributes) can directly affect a player’s performance.
4) The course of the Russia-Ukraine war: The worsening negative atmosphere created by the Russia-Ukraine war is causing unease, especially for career soccer players from Europe and their spouses. They may want to leave Turkey.
5) Violence that destroys fine soccer: In-game violence, far exceeding the level expected in the Super League, prevents Galatasaray from truly showcasing its true game. Deliberate and harsh interventions can often result in injuries to players. Unfortunately, in Turkey, tactics are often based on preventing the opposing team from playing, which can degrade soccer and lead to serious injuries. A team without an injured player can also suffer performance losses or even be more anxious going into the next game even if the player is not injured.
6) The attitude of the home team and its fans: Especially in away games, the attitude of the visiting team and its fans can affect the psychology of the entire team. For example, it is absolutely unacceptable for a fan to attack players with a flying kick during the recent Ankaragücü-Beşiktaş game. Furthermore, while the person who committed such acts should have been punished in the harshest manner, their immediate release after interrogation is a disgrace to the country. I support the player’s justified reaction to the punishment of Beşiktaş player Josef de Souza, who stopped the fan who attacked the players with a flying kick, despite his being held in high regard. Fans of this type should be given at least 2-3 years in prison and a lifetime ban from soccer games with the intent of injuring them. Unless such deterrent punishments are implemented, these incidents will continue to persist.
7) European competitions: Back in the second half of the 1990s, when Galatasaray was successful, playing two, and sometimes even three, games a week was perfectly normal, even keeping the players fit. Now, players and teams playing all over Europe can complain. They consider one game a week normal, and two games a week is too much. With this mentality, teams competing in Europe are at a disadvantage, while those competing solely in the league are at an advantage. My logic is that after playing at a high standard in Europe, players should maintain their level of performance in the league as well. Playing two games a week is no problem at all.
Galatasaray’s true assets: Young players developed through the youth academy
Speaking of all the transfers, it wouldn’t be right to ignore the young players developed through equity. I’ve always said: Young players developed through Galatasaray’s youth academy are the guarantee of our future. I’m personally very pleased that some of these young players have been included in the senior team this year. I hope they all get their chance at some point. Now, let’s remember the young players in the senior squad: Jankat Yılmaz (Goalkeeper), Emin Bayram (Defender), Metehan Baltacı (Defender), Barış Alper Yılmaz (Midfielder), Özgür Baran Aksaka (Midfielder), Hamza Yiğit Akman (Midfielder).
In this whole equation, I don’t understand why Beknaz Almazbekov, the star of the youth team of Kyrgyz origin, is playing for the Reserve League instead of playing for the A team in the Super League. Despite his young age, Beknaz, who plays for the Kyrgyz National Team and is widely considered a future star, should be among our options to add depth to our midfield in the A team.
Finally, let me share the full list of our soccer team’s A team this year, which includes young players: Futbol A Takım Kadrosu – GALATASARAY.ORG
For Galatasaray, a European team again…
When I look at all these factors, I can’t say that Galatasaray is the absolute favorite in the championship race. All teams have made good signings this year. Besides the highly regarded Başakşehir and Fenerbahçe, which I mentioned in the article, Beşiktaş, Trabzonspor, and even Konyaspor have very good squads. Therefore, I think Galatasaray’s chance of winning the title this year is less than 50%. Even if we don’t win the championship, we absolutely must be on the path to the Champions League. Therefore, I hope that Galatasaray, a team that didn’t win the championship, can at least finish second and qualify for the Champions League group stage.
This year is an interesting one. After many years, Manchester United failed to qualify for European competitions. Even Ronaldo, who prioritizes personal records above all else, is on the verge of burning bridges with Manchester United because of this. Galatasaray, too, has fallen from a team that competes in the Champions League every year to, unfortunately, being unable to qualify for any European competition this year. I hope this situation changes quickly, and Galatasaray, Turkey’s most successful representative in Europe, returns to where it belongs next year: in Europe, and if possible, even in the Champions League.
Tag: education
