Galatasaray, one of the most successful clubs in Turkey, finalizes the signing of Argentine striker Mauro Icardi from Paris Saint Germain, as confirmed by the club on Wednesday.
“Official negotiations have begun with the soccer player Mauro Emanuel Icardi Rivero for a loan, both with the player himself and with the Paris Saint-Germain soccer club,” reads Galatasaray’s message on his Twitter account.
The club’s fans have gathered at Istanbul’s Atatürk airport to welcome the player, whose arrival on a private plane is expected tonight.
According to the Turkish press, the 29-year-old Argentine player, who began his career in Barcelona’s youth team before joining Sampdoria and Inter in Italy, before finally moving on to PSG, arrives for a one-year loan.
Galatasaray will pay part of Icardi’s three million euro salary, without having to pay PSG for the transfer, according to the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet.
The arrival of the player, who according to the press will arrive accompanied by his wife, the Argentine model Wanda Nara, has electrified the fans of the Turkish club, who have gathered at the airport with flares to await the arrival of Icardi.
This same Wednesday, the club also announced the next signing of the Austrian Yusuf Demir, until now at Rapid Vienna, who played for Barcelona last season, and the young Danish player Mathias Ross, from Aalborg.
Galatasaray, traditionally one of the three strongest clubs in Turkey, finished last season’s Turkish Super League in 13th place, the worst result in their history, but this year they have started to come back and are currently in seventh place.
Last year’s losing streak led to the dismissal of the legendary coach Fatih Terim last January, who was replaced by the Spanish Domènec Torrent, who was fired at the end of the season and replaced by the Turkish Okan Buruk. EFE
