Officially
Galatasaray Istanbul made the upcoming transfer double pack official on Monday evening. With Dries Mertens and Lucas Torreira, there are two players in the Süper Lig who have proven their class in the top European leagues over the years.
While Mertens is moving to the Bosphorus on a free transfer after the end of his contract with SSC Napoli, Galatasaray says he is paying 6 million euros to Arsenal for Torreira. In addition to the transfer fee, Galatasaray also provided information about the Uruguayan’s salary in the press release. During his contract, which is valid until 2026, the midfielder will receive 2.75 million euros net per year.
Mertens, who is said to have been offered a house including a chauffeur and 30 flights to Naples and Brussels, signed for a year with an option for another season. The second year should be added automatically if Galatasaray qualifies for the Champions League.
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The Belgian has been at Napoli for the past nine years, in which he has contributed 148 goals and 90 assists in 397 games. No other professional has scored more goals for the club. In the meantime, he reached his career high of 32 million euros in 2017. A contract extension did not materialize because both sides could not agree. Naples club president Aurelio De Laurentiis recently said that Mertens had rejected the final offer with a gross annual salary of 4.5 million euros. “If I had to pay him a disproportionately high amount, we would lack a part that we have to invest in younger players,” the club boss explained. “It wasn’t me and it wasn’t the club that didn’t want Mertens with us anymore. He could have done us a big favor, but the club made him an offer and he didn’t accept it,” said coach Luciano Spalletti recently.
Galatasaray’a hoş geldin, @dries_mertens14 pic.twitter.com/fINb4ATURc
— Galatasaray SK (@GalatasaraySK) August 8, 2022
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