The president of Istanbul’s Galatasaray, Dursun Özbek, gave an extensive interview to the club channel GSTV immediately after the contract-signing ceremony with Leroy Aziz Sané at the Metin Oktay Training Center in Kemerburgaz. The chairman outlined the strategy for the upcoming season, urged supporters to back the team through official merchandise, and promised that the Lions
would enter the Champions League with the most competitive squad possible.
“After our 25th championship and the addition of the fifth star to our crest, we have turned our full focus to the Champions League. We are doing absolutely everything to delight our supporters and achieve satisfying results there,” Özbek emphasized.
According to the president, Galatasaray intends not merely to feature in the group stage, but to fight in earnest:
“We will assemble a team that fights for every ball in every match. For that, the support from the stands is vital. Stay with us and keep motivating us!”
Record-Breaking Call for Sané Shirt Sales
The club boss placed special emphasis on merchandising. Özbek appealed to fans to smash another commercial record through sales of the new kit bearing the name of the newcomer:
“I have a personal request for every fan. We are putting Sané shirts on sale, and we must rewrite the record books. Let everyone buy this jersey—together we will set another milestone. With fresh gear and unified stands, we are confident we will succeed in Europe as well,” Özbek said.
The chairman added that reinforcement work is ongoing:
“Leroy is only the beginning. We are continuing negotiations to make the squad as strong as possible. All the fans need to do is stay by the team. We expect Sané shirts to sell in the hundreds of thousands.”
“We Can Never Be Grateful Enough”
Sportif A.Ş. vice-president Abdullah Kavukcu shared details of the lengthy talks and compared the new number ten
with Galatasaray legends:
“We believe Sané will become for us what Metin Oktay, Gheorghe Hagi, and Dries Mertens were—an authentic icon. The transfer process began in January, and words are insufficient to describe our joy,” the executive said.
He stressed that the atmosphere created by supporters played a decisive role:
“The way our fans celebrated the championship in the streets and shook the stadium during the Bayern Munich match deeply impressed Leroy. That energy was a major factor in his decision to choose Istanbul. We have literally set aside our own work to serve Galatasaray. Now we expect our supporters to break sales records for Sané products through GS Store and our website.”
Sané’s First Words in the Yellow and Red Shirt
The new signing Leroy Sané did not hide his emotions, calling the move a new challenge:
“I have come to the biggest club in Turkey. I can’t wait to give everything, win trophies, and meet the supporters. Dries Mertens was an outstanding player here, and I want to achieve the same heights with his number and bring luck to the club. My greatest wish is to step onto the pitch as soon as possible and share success with the stands,” said the German winger.
Before signing the contract, Sané spoke with his Germany teammate Kerem Demirbay:
“He was incredibly happy that I was coming here. He told me I would be joining a wonderful club, wonderful people, fantastic supporters, and an amazing country. He said how happy I would be, and I can’t wait to meet him on the training pitch,” the newcomer added.
Medical Completed, the Season Begins
Galatasaray’s press service officially confirmed that Sané has successfully passed the mandatory medical tests. The coaching staff now awaits the start of the training camp to integrate the star winger into their tactical schemes.
The club is expected to announce further reinforcements in the coming weeks. Management reiterates its commitment to building a team capable of representing Turkey with honor on Europe’s most prestigious club stage.
Meanwhile, the financial side of the deal is already bearing fruit—the frenzy around merchandise sales promises significant growth in commercial revenue. For the club, which will play the Champions League group stage for the fifteenth time following last season’s title, this income is an additional resource for further acquisitions.
Unity Bears Fruit
Wrapping up his talk with GSTV, Dursun Özbek once again addressed the supporters:
“Today we are reaping the harvest of our unity. Stable leadership, support from the stands, and results on the pitch—all of it turns into concrete transfers. Keep believing in us, and we will make you proud,” the president concluded.
