07.07.2025 14:11
Galatasaray's Brazilian star Gabriel Sara made statements to ESPN Brazil. Speaking about their rivals Fenerbahçe, Sara made a striking remark, answering the question "Which is the most annoying fan group you have faced?" with "Fenerbahçe."
Galatasaray's Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Sara made special statements to ESPN Brazil about his career, his transfer to Galatasaray, his national team dream, and many other topics.
'MY DEFENSIVE GAME HAS IMPROVED A LOT'
The Brazilian player, who stated that his defensive game has improved a lot in Europe, said, "I think my defensive game has improved a lot in Europe. Here, I play in a slightly more offensive position. In England, I played a bit deeper, like a midfielder. I believe I have developed a lot defensively. I have also gained a bit more muscle mass physically. So I can say that my physical game has improved a lot, but I also think my psychological game has improved a lot," he expressed.
'I WAS A NEW LIFE HOPE FOR MY FAMILY'
Like many footballers in Brazil, Sara expressed that he was a hope for his family, saying, "I guess I was a new life hope for my family, like 95% of footballers in Brazil. I had this thought in my mind: 'I have to succeed.' I don't want to be a player who gets loaned to the second or third league. Things are not going well, you know?" he said.
'I RECEIVED SOME OFFERS FROM THE PREMIER LEAGUE'
The 26-year-old player, who stated that he did not want to come to Turkey while his wife was pregnant, said, "Galatasaray was the team that made the most effort to transfer me. I received some offers from the Premier League, but I don't think any of them showed the interest that Galatasaray did. At first, I didn't want to go to Turkey. I always say this because my wife was pregnant, and the birth was very close. So it would have been a big change, but the opportunity to play in the Champions League or Europa League outweighed that. If I didn't have the chance to play in the Premier League, I would have wanted to play in a league as good as that. I wanted to experience different things in a competitive league with big clubs. I think that's why I chose Galatasaray, and to be honest, it was a great choice," he said.
'THERE WERE TIMES I HAD TO HIDE'
Sara, who said that he sometimes roamed around Istanbul in disguise, stated, "Because I am a football player, people on the street gave me free things. There were times I had to hide because we are in a historic city. I love to see tourist places and some things, but I can't go like that with my wife. Then there came a moment when I had to wear a hat and glasses," he said.
'MY TRANSFER TO GALATASARAY WAS WITH THE BRAZIL NATIONAL TEAM IN MIND'
Gabriel Sara, who added that he thought about the Brazil National Team while transferring to the yellow-red team, said: "The most important thing is the Brazil National Team. So much so that my transfer to Galatasaray was with the Brazil National Team in mind. I think I imagine the yellow Brazil jersey with every step I take on the field."
'WHEN I SAW ALEX, MY HEART BEAT FAST'
Gabriel Sara expressed his admiration for one of Fenerbahçe's legendary figures, Alex de Souza, saying, "I have always been a big fan of Alex, and we played against them. He was working in Antalya. We greeted each other in the locker room, and I was focused on the match until I saw him. When I saw him, my heart beat fast. I greeted him, and I didn't know what to say because he was representing the other side. At that moment, I felt a shiver in my stomach. Dude, this is Alex. Then we followed each other on Instagram. He even sent me a message, and we chatted a bit. I think I'm a bit calmer now, but that moment was surreal," he said.
'THE GUY I ADMIRE'
Sara, who said that legendary French footballer Zinedine Zidane is a pleasure to watch, used the following expressions: "There was always a guy I admired, and that was Zidane. His behavior on the field, dribbling the ball with both feet... Incredible elegance, his ball control was surreal; the ball never left his foot. So I loved watching him. If I had to name an elegant and enjoyable player to watch, it would be Zidane."
'FENERBAHÇE IS ANNOYING'
The Brazilian footballer answered the question, 'Which fan group have you found the most annoying?' with a single word: "Fenerbahçe."