The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Galatasaray

  • Galatasaray sends Tudor packing

    Galatasaray sends Tudor packing

     

    Galatasaray have sacked head coach Igor Tudor after his side lost three of their last four matches in all competitions.

    Former Juventus and Croatia defender Tudor was appointed as successor to Jan Olde Riekerink in February but could only lead Gala to fourth place last season.

    A 2-1 loss away to Yeni Malatyaspor on Sunday proved to be the 39-year-old’s final game in charge, with that loss directly following an embarrassing cup defeat at second-tier Sivas Belediyespor, although Gala progressed to the next round on aggregate.

    The 20-time champions sit second in the Super Lig table, a point behind leaders Istanbul Basaksehir, but Tudor has paid the price for four defeats in their last seven league matches and for failing to get through the qualifying stages of the Europa League.

    Tudor was criticised by Netherlands icon Wesley Sneijder after he left Istanbul in July.

    “The coach made his choice,” Sneijder said. “He made the choice not to work with me.

    “If some coach doesn’t want to work with you then you have to look for something else. If the coach doesn’t want to use you anymore then you don’t have a jersey number.”

    Meanwhile,elsewhere in the premier league,  Crystal Palace captain Jason Puncheon has been charged with assault and possession of an offensive weapon by police after a late-night incident.

    Puncheon was arrested at 02:20GMT on Sunday morning near the Mishiko bar on Church Street, Reigate, where police were called following a report of a fight.

    A police spokesperson said: “Jason Puncheon, 31 of Kingswood, has been charged with a Section 4 public order offence – causing fear or provocation of violence, possession of an offensive weapon and common assault.

    “He has been released on bail to appear at Guildford Magistrates Court on January 5.

    Puncheon has made 11 appearances for Palace this season, but has only played 20 minutes in the Premier League across two substitute appearances since September.

  • Podolski off to Japan for $15.8 million

    Podolski off to Japan for $15.8 million

     

     

    Germany’s former star striker Lukas Podolski has agreed a move from Turkish giants Galatasaray to Vissel Kobe of Japan, a report  revealed  Wednesday.

    The Hurriyet daily said Podolski had agreed a three-year deal with the J1 side worth 15 million euros ($15.8 million) and Istanbul side Galatasaray would receive a transfer fee of 2.7 million euros ($2.85 million).

    The move would take effect from June 1, meaning Podolski could play for Galatasaray until the end of the season, it said. The announcement and signing is expected in the next days.

    The paper said that the player is enthusiastic about the move to Japan and Galatasaray were keen to accommodate him but insisted he stayed until the end of the season.

    Vissel Kobe initially offered a transfer fee of 2.0 million euros but Galatasaray informed the Japanese they had paid his former club Arsenal 2.5 million for him.

    “We are very happy with him. It’s not possible for us to sell him for a lower price,” Galatasaray told Vissel Kobe before the final transfer fee of 2.7 million euros was agreed, it said.

    The reported move by Podolski comes with Galatasaray in a period of upheaval, with the club sacking manager Jan Olde Riekerink after one year in the job and set to appoint former Croatian international Igor Tudor as his replacement.

    The German, who retired from international duty last year, joined Galatasaray from Arsenal in 2015 after a loan spell at Inter Milan.

    Podolski’s tough approach to the game and clear interest in Turkish culture has made him popular with Galatasaray fans.

    He has also endured injury problems and the club has been through a fallow period, finishing only sixth in the Super Lig last year and lagging in third this season.

  • Galatasaray want Isaac Success on loan

    Galatasaray want Isaac Success on loan

    Officials of Turkish Super Lig team, Galatasaray, are exploring the possibility of signing Nigeria youth international, Isaac Success, before the close of the summer transfer window, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

    One of the club’s representatives has opened communication with the player’s intermediary about a loan move.

    However, officials of the English Premier League (EPL) side, Watford, want to keep Success because he is in the plans of first-team coach, Walter Mazzarri.

    The ex- Granada forward made his competitive debut for Watford in Saturday‘s 1-3 defeat to Arsenal at the Vicarage Road.

  • Mikel not ready to quit Chelsea

    Mikel not ready to quit Chelsea

    After having more playing time under Coach Guus Hiddink, Nigeria’s John Obi Mikel believes his future still lies with Chelsea.

    Despite the obvious departure of Hiddink with Italian Antonio Conte taking charge, Mikel who had spent 10 years at Stanford Bridge still believes he can play his way into the new coach team.

    With just one year left in the current contract of the mid-fielder, the Super Eagles star is hoping that he can be part of the plans of the incoming new head-coach Antonio Conte.

    Mikel`s love of life at Stamford Bridge could explain why, back in January, the 29-year-old turned down moves to Turkish football with the Sun reporting that both Galatasaray and Fenerbache were keen to do a deal for the player and that a reputed salary of £110,000 a week was on the table.

    With the change at the managerial helm imminent, there are mixed reactions trailing the possible stay for John Obi Mikel under Antonio Conte.

  • Galatasaray to bid N1.7bn for Mikel in January

    Galatasaray to bid N1.7bn for Mikel in January

    Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel could be heading out of Chelsea with a swooping of £6m (N1.7bn) bid from Turkish giant, Galatasaray in the January transfer window, according to Turkish Outlet newspaper.

    He has also been linked with Fenerbache in the past. The Nigeria international has struggled for first-team action this season despite the club’s woeful start to the season.

    Mikel has made just nine appearances for Jose Mourinho’s side, who lie 16th in the Premier League after monday night’s 2-1 defeat at Leicester.

    And according to Turkish Outlet Takvim, Galatasaray could put the midfielder out of his misery in January.

    The Istanbul club are reportedly ready to splash out £6m from the 28-year-old.

    Mikel’s current Chelsea contract expires in the summer of 2017.

    And with an extension to that deal looking unlikely, the Blues could look to sell in the new year to earn a better return.

  • Sarki claims Galatasaray interest

    Sarki claims Galatasaray interest

    Former Flying Eagles’ forward, Emmanuel Sarki, said Turkish giants Galatasaray has shown interest in signing him after a move to Germany collapsed.

    The Wisla Krakow of Poland star told africanFootball.com: “The transfer to Germany was not successful, but Galatasaray has started talking to my club and hopefully when the transfer window reopens, I will leave.”

    The 26-year-old Sarki, who played alongside Mikel Obi, Chinedu Obasi with the Golden Eaglets was once on the books of English Premier League side Chelsea.

    Sarki plays mostly as a right winger with a good burst of speed and he is also effective in dead ball situations.

    He has also played in Belgium and Israel.

  • Galatasaray confirms Prandelli appointment

    Galatasaray confirms Prandelli appointment

    Turkish giants Galatasaray have confirmed the appointment as Cesare Prandelli as their new coach on a two-year deal.

    The Istanbul club last week revealed that they were in talks with the former Italy coach, who resigned after his country’s disappointing FIFA World Cup campaign.

    Galatasaray issued a statement on their website on Monday confirming that the 56-year-old will replace compatriot Roberto Mancini, who left the club by mutual consent last month.

    Prandelli is due to arrive in Istanbul on Monday evening (local time) and sign his contract on Tuesday before holding a press conference.

    The experienced Prandelli spent four years in charge of his country after taking over from Marcello Lippi and guided the Azzurri to the final of the 2012 European Championship, when they were beaten by Spain.

    He signed a new two-year deal to stay on as Italy coach in May, but stepped down after the four-time world champions failed to progress from Group D in Brazil – winning only one game against England.

    Galatasaray announced last month that president Unal Aysal had held informal talks with former Manchester United manager David Moyes, but a spokesman added that Germany coach Joachim Low and United States boss Jurgen Klinsmann were the club’s prinicipal targets.

    They have now turned to Prandelli, though, and he will return to coaching at club level for the first time since leaving his role at Fiorentina to take the Italy job.

  • Galatasaray bid N2b for Mikel

    Galatasaray bid N2b for Mikel

    Galatasaray have moved to reunite Super Eagles midfielder, John Obi Mikel with former-Chelsea teammate, Didier Drogba after the Turkish giants made a £10m bid (N2,521,461,150,000 billion) for the midfielder, according to talkSPORT.

    The Nigerian international has been linked with a move away from Chelsea this summer and speculations have increased since Jose Mourinho returned for his second spell as Stamford Bridge boss.

    Chelsea have since signed Marco van Ginkel from Vitesse Arnhem, and 26-year-old Mikel is now believed to be surplus to requirements.

    Napoli, managed by former-Chelsea boss, Rapher Benitez, are also keen on the defensive midfielder, and may consider a bid of their own following Galatasaray’s move.

    The Turkish giants are keen to strengthen and build on their Champions League success from last season. The double capture of Drogba and Wesley Sneijder helped Galatasaray to the Champions League quarter-finals last term.

    Mikel has not featured in either of Chelsea’s Premier League games so far this season, with Mourinho favouring Frank Lampard and Ramires.

    And Chelsea have got off to a strong start under their new manager, winning their opening two games of the season against newly promoted Hull City on Sunday and Aston Villa on Wednesday evening.

  • Anzhi joins Mikel race

    Anzhi joins Mikel race

    Big-spending Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala has joined the race for Chelsea ace Mikel Obi, MTNFootball.com reports.

    Anzhi, who parade Cameroon superstar Samuel Eto’o Fils, had kept close tabs on Mikel for some time now.

    Mikel was not part of the Chelsea squad that jetted out to South East Asia for pre-season training to further fuel speculations in the local media he is on his way out of the EPL side.

    And MTNFootball.com has since gathered that besides Turkish champions Galatasaray and free-spending Monaco, Anzhi has returned for the Nigeria midfielder, who is holidaying in Abuja.

    A top source who is part of the negotiations to take Mikel to Russia told MTNFootball.com: “Anzhi has come back for Mikel. The club has made the player an offer and he in turn has asked for an improvement. That is the latest on the Mikel situation.”

    Galatasaray had been in pole position to land Mikel after agreeing personal terms with him, but the Turkish giants has 13 foreigners presently and would need to get rid of four of these players to accommodate the Super Eagles midfielder.

     

  • Mikel ‘ready’ to quit Chelsea

    Mikel ‘ready’ to quit Chelsea

    Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has said he is ready quit the Europa Cup winners after Galatasaray tabled an offer for him.

    “I’m very pleased with Galatasaray’s offer,” MTNFootball.com quoted Mikel as saying to Turkish newspaper Sabah.

    “I asked Drogba for advice and he told me that Istanbul is a fantastic city, that Galatasaray is a huge club and that I have to make the move.

    “I have played at Chelsea for a long time and it’s now time for me to leave.

    “I’m still only 26 and it’s great to receive an offer from a club [Galatasaray] playing Champions League football and doing well in the competition.”

    The Nigeria international said he does not expect any cash problems and Chelsea to stand in his move to Turkey.

    “Talks have reached an advanced level between Chelsea and Galatasaray. Chelsea won’t make the move difficult and regarding my salary there won’t be a problem,” he said.

    “All that is left is for the clubs to reach an agreement.”

    The 26-year-old defensive midfielder joined Chelsea from FK Lyn for €26 million in 2006 and has four years left on his contract.

    Mikel has made 277 appearances for Chelsea during which time he has won two Premier League titles, four FA Cups and lifted the Champions League as well as the Europa League trophy.