Mesut Özil has clarified his role in Leroy Sane’s transfer to Galatasaray, stating his conversations with the winger were friendly and informative, not an attempt to sway his decision.
Rumors suggested Özil, a former Fenerbahçe player and fellow Schalke youth academy product, encouraged Sane to join the Turkish giants.
However, Özil denied these claims, explaining he simply provided information about life in Turkey and Istanbul.
“We talked before he came to Turkey, but it’s not like I directed him to Galatasaray as written in the media,” Özil stated, adding he praised the city as “very beautiful and safe” and highlighted the “incredible food.”
Özil expressed his happiness at Sane’s arrival, noting their shared Schalke roots.
Sane’s move, after his Bayern Munich contract expired, is seen as a major win for Galatasaray, boosting their European ambitions.