🤔 Why did Sané choose Galatasaray? The inside story | OneFootball

The signing of Leroy Sané by Galatasaray Istanbul, coming from Bayern Munich as a free agent, was one of the biggest surprises of last summer. Now, George Gardi, his agent who was involved in the operation, has for the first time provided more detailed information about the behind-the-scenes of the transfer and reveals why Sané opted for the Turkish Super League despite the numerous and lucrative offers received.

Leroy Sané wore the Bayern jersey for five years before making a decision in the summer that surprised the European transfer market: a free transfer to Galatasaray Istanbul.

George Gardi now confirms that the signing was by no means assured. The Italian agent had been working behind the scenes for months to finalize it and revealed in an interview with Sky that Sané was more sought after than ever: "He had offers from the best clubs in England and Germany. He had a million-dollar offer from Saudi Arabia."

Bayern Munich also wanted to renew Sané's contract and offered him a new deal. However, the German national team star rejected it. Gardi describes the negotiations as extremely complex, especially because the 2026 World Cup was an important factor for Sané.

Early Contact and a Clear Plan from Galatasaray

According to Gardi, the idea of bringing Sané to Istanbul arose long before the start of the transfer market: "This idea came up many months before the transfer market. I knew it was necessary to take the team to the next level."

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Gardi initially contacted Sané's advisors at that time, and later also sought to engage with his new advisor, Pini Zahavi. The conversations lasted several weeks and were characterized by patience, persuasion, and a timely strategy.

Why Did Sané Choose Galatasaray?

In the end, it was not money or prestige that tipped the balance, but sporting and emotional reasons. Sané saw in Galatasaray the perfect combination of role, recognition, and future prospects.

According to Gardi, three particular points were convincing: Sané would become the image of the new team, a key piece for the next season. The conversations with Galatasaray's coach, Orkan Buruk, were also important. The coach made it very clear how fundamental Sané would be for the team's system. Last but not least, the extraordinary support from the fans also played a crucial role. Istanbul offered him recognition that he would not have received anywhere else.

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From the perspective of the Turkish champion, the signing was a great achievement. Gardi explains the transfer: "The signing is an outright success. We worked brilliantly as a team to bring such an important player."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

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