Transfer theater ended
Nicolò Zaniolo has left AS Roma for good and ended a transfer posse this winter. The Turkish federation TFF announced the signing of the attacking midfielder by Galatasaray, for whom the Istanbul are said to be paying a record fee. In return, the Italians are said to have secured a preferential option for two Gala talents: homegrown Efe Akman (16) and former Rapid Vienna pupil Yusuf Demir (19). Zaniolo has signed until 2027.
According to information from the Italian transfer reporter Gianluca Di Marzio, the cost of the Zaniolo deal is initially a basic fee of 16 million euros, which could easily be supplemented by further bonus payments: up to 11 million euros in total. A little over 20 million euros should at least be expected. Previously, Gala had never spent more than €17m on a player. Jardel from FC Porto set this record back in 2000. After that, the Turks only invested four times (in euros) transfers in the eight-digit range.
With Ribéry, Sneijder & Zaniolo: Galatasaray’s most expensive arrivals
Meanwhile, youngsters Demir, who trained at Rapid Vienna and briefly dabbled in FC Barcelona, and Akman from their own talent factory could find themselves at Roma in the near future. The Giallorossi are reportedly getting an option on Austrian winger Demir and Istanbul-native Akman, who will play in defensive midfield in the Gala youth squad.
Transfer theater around Zaniolo – number of former Serie A professionals at Galatasaray is growing
Zaniolo, whose new contract in Turkey is said to have included a €35m release clause for a return to the top five leagues, has made headlines in recent days with a botched move to England. Roma had made their position clear several times: Loaning the player was not an option, only a permanent move was an option. This failed on Deadline Day (January 31st in Italy and England, among others), and AC Milan and AFC Bournemouth were also working on a transfer. First Zaniolo didn’t want to join the “Cherries”, then the “Cherries” didn’t want Zaniolo anymore. The player had – initially at his own request – not been part of the squad in the past games.
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Zaniolo’s back and forth in the winter transfer windowTo the story
Zaniolo, who recently saw himself exposed to threats from Roma supporters in the course of the change debate, took sick leave as a result and stayed in La Spezia near his hometown, had tried to explain his situation in a public statement during the week and shook hands with the club. “Many things have been said and written in the last few weeks that are not true. (…) The future is in our hands: I am holding mine and making myself completely available to the Roma family,” wrote the player.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan will also benefit from the now fixed move to Istanbul. The club, where Zaniolo once made the leap to the professional level, is said to have a 15 percent share of the fee. At Galatasaray, on the other hand, the eleven-time national player expands the squad of former Serie A professionals in the team. In the offensive of the Süper Lig leaders alone, there are three well-known professionals, Mauro Icardi (29), Dries Mertens (35) and now Zaniolo, who once played in Italy’s upper house. With Sérgio Oliveira (30), Lucas Torreira (26) and Fernando Muslera (36), there are even six ex-Lega professionals in the record champions’ squad.
After the severe earthquakes in Turkey: Helpful people can help the injured victims and survivors of the catastrophe not only on site, but also with donations. These can over virtualPOSbank accounts and SMS afad.gov.tr be made. There is also a further overview of aid projects and donation options here.
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