Okan Buruk’s Direct Move
According to recent reports, Buruk has taken matters into his own hands by making a direct phone call to his former player. Having coached the Kosovar striker during their time at Çaykur Rizespor, Buruk reportedly told Muriqi, "Come to Galatasaray," to spearhead the team's upcoming European campaign. Following the conversation, the powerful forward is said to be highly enthusiastic about returning to Turkey.
A Sensational Season Despite Relegation
Muriqi enjoyed a breathtaking individual campaign with Mallorca, scoring an incredible 23 goals in La Liga—finishing as the league's second-highest top scorer, trailing only global superstar Kylian Mbappé. Despite his heroic performances, Mallorca was ultimately relegated to the second division.
While Muriqi's contract runs until 2029 with a €30 million release clause, Mallorca's relegation means they are expected to slash their asking price down to a more realistic €15-20 million.
Galatasaray vs. Fenerbahçe vs. Barcelona
Muriqi’s sudden availability has sparked an intense transfer battle in Istanbul. Galatasaray’s fierce rivals Fenerbahçe—where Muriqi scored heavily during the 2019-2020 season—are pushing hard to hijack the deal. The pursuit has even turned into a political tool for Fenerbahçe's presidential elections, with candidate figures Sadettin Saran and Aziz Yıldırım eyeing his signature to win over voters.
However, the biggest threat to Galatasaray's plans comes from Spain. European giants Barcelona have entered the race, with manager Hansi Flick eyeing Muriqi's physical dominance and elite aerial ability as the perfect bargain opportunity to replace the departing Robert Lewandowski.
With Icardi's future looking bleak, expect Galatasaray to aggressively push forward with the Muriqi operation in the coming weeks.
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