Hakim Ziyech, who was welcomed with incredible fanfare when he joined Galatasaray in 2023, now says he regrets the move and plans to leave the club in January.
Hakim Ziyech arrived from Chelsea in the summer of 2023 and was unveiled to ecstatic supporters after a 2-0 Super Lig win over Trabzonspor.
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He even joined the ultra group in the main stand, conducting chants as his new teammates smiled from the pitch. However, just a year later, the mood has soured, and the Morocco international is eager to depart.
In an interview with Turkish journalist Haluk Yurekli, Ziyech expressed his discontent with manager Okan Buruk and his situation at Galatasaray.
“Galatasaray is over for me. I don’t want to play here anymore. I’m leaving in January. I regret coming here,” he said.
Despite a solid debut season, where he scored eight goals and provided four assists in 23 appearances, Ziyech’s role has diminished this season.
He’s made just eight appearances out of 24, with seven of those coming off the bench.
🚨 Benfica are interested in signing Hakim Ziyech, who has made it clear he wants to leave Galatasaray.
(Source: @fanatikcomtr) pic.twitter.com/MuzS6ZKDxN
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) December 20, 2024
His opportunities have been limited due to the arrivals of Victor Osimhen and Michy Batshuayi, while Dries Mertens continues to impress.
Galatasaray, reportedly interested in signing Roma’s Paulo Dybala, could be open to letting Ziyech go to make room for the Argentine forward.
Ziyech, who made a name for himself at Ajax and was part of Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League-winning squad, now looks set for another move, with January offering the next chapter in his career.
