Okan Buruk's statement on Jose Mourinho regarding arrivals and departures.

03.06.2025 23:10

Galatasaray's head coach Okan Buruk made striking statements regarding current issues. Speaking about Jose Mourinho, potential transfers to the team, and departing players, Okan Buruk said, "There were serious interests in Barış Alper during the transfer window. We wanted him to stay. He was very cooperative and didn't prolong the situation at all. Together with his manager, they said, 'We are Galatasaray players.' If an offer comes for Barış, the club will make the decision."

Galatasaray's head coach Okan Buruk made striking statements on beIN SPORTS. Okan Buruk answered questions about Fenerbahçe's head coach Jose Mourinho, transfers to be made for the team, departing players, and much more.

Here are Okan Buruk's statements;

"I compare the first championship to the third championship. In all of them, we were ahead. When we look at the point difference, it seems like this year was the easiest, but psychologically, this year was the hardest. Last year was also close at 102-99. Psychologically, I also consider the psychology of the Galatasaray fans. I never thought Fenerbahçe would overtake us. We performed well in the finals. This year was difficult; we struggled at times, but when we look at the end, it passed more easily."

'I'M WEARING OUT DURING THE TRANSFER PERIOD'

"Maybe no one remembers, but our preparation matches were very bad. We lost a preparation match 5-2. Of course, those times are not very significant for me; after all, it's called a preparation match. The winter transfer period was also tough. I wear out during the transfer period. I have to prepare the team, make transfers, and watch players. When you do many things at the same time, sometimes you get twice as tired as usual."

'MOURINHO WAS NOT IN FORM'

"Mourinho came. Fenerbahçe made significant transfers. Did you think this year would be tougher?"

"I thought the opposite. There was a team that had been doing well. I thought the opposite because of a team that changed coaches after collecting 99 points. I didn't look at it by name. Jose Mourinho was not in form anyway."

CUESTA-METEHAN

"We need to make a decision regarding Cuesta. For the upcoming year. If we are going to make a transfer, we need to decide. Metehan is also an important character for the team."

'WE NEED TO BUILD A GOOD SQUAD'

"Our job in transfers is tough. Sometimes you can't get what you want the most; they don't want to come. We struggle to bring the exact players we want here, which can be difficult. Transfers can sometimes be tough. I want more in Europe. We need to show that game in the Champions League, and we need to build a good squad. For example, last year we couldn't register Sallai on the European list; we registered him during the winter break. This year, we need to establish our squad much earlier. Turkish players are also very important on the European list."

"You always made late transfers, and very important names came."

"They say, 'Who cursed?' (Laughing). I think Sallai played very well. He finished the season very well as a full-back. He was good defensively. We saw Hakimi in the Champions League final. Perhaps we saw how important a full-back is there. At one point, he was pressing as a left winger. Dembele was left in his place. Full-backs are important for big teams."

'ICARDI WILL RETURN'

"We need to decide whether it would be better for players like Jelert and Yusuf Demir to stay with us or play somewhere else. Icardi will return. People thought he wasn't running, but he and Mertens had the best attacking pressures."

"Sacha Boey is very different. He was winning all the duels at the back. Especially when he was with Davinson, it was very different. Eren played very well. Lemina increased our percentage of winning duels. Not registering Mario Lemina on the European list was indeed a mistake. Ismail Jakobs was always injured during that period. He was the one we needed the most. After Eren came, Jakobs was good, but there was no Jakobs before Eren. That made our job harder."

'THEY WERE SERIOUSLY INTERESTED IN BARIS ALPER'

"There were serious interests in Barış Alper during the winter break. We wanted him to stay. He, thank God, didn't prolong it at all. He and his manager said, 'We are Galatasaray players.' If an offer comes for Barış, the club will decide, but we don't have a stance of 'We want to sell Barış.' We don't have to sell him."

'I WOULD LIKE TO WORK IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE'

"I look at it a bit realistically. Right now, with the current budget, player quality, and the Champions League factor, I see Galatasaray as one of Europe's elite teams. For example, I would love to work in the Premier League, but I have no intention of going to work anywhere in Europe; I want to work in a good place. Galatasaray has a name and is a global brand. As long as I can be here, I want to be here. I am very happy here because of that. Alongside that, experiencing the Premier League is very important. I love watching two teams play. I love this football, and I think the Premier League is very different."

'MOURINHO IS SOMEONE TO BE RESPECTED'

"He is truly a coach with a respectable history. Were we expecting some of the things he did here? Yes, we were. It happens; the thing I dislike the most is what happens between coaches. I don't want that either. After the match, I said, 'It shouldn't be exaggerated.' I believe it shouldn't be exaggerated. If he comes to the match, I would go to the opposing bench and shake his hand. Of course, if something comes from the other side, your situation changes, but if you want to change something outside the field, you also need to do something. Unfortunately, we see that polarization is increasing. There has been polarization between the two communities due to the Galatasaray - Fenerbahçe rivalry in the last three years. I wish this wouldn't happen; I will do my part in that regard."

'80% OF THE APPOINTMENTS WERE WRONG'

"Should it be done, should it not be done, do you have a coach of quality to put there? I think we need to decide and support Turkish referees. I respect all of them, but I believe that 80% of the appointments were wrong. There are both derby matches and normal matches here. There are deliberately wrong appointments. This year, for the first time, a foreign referee came. When I put all of these together, I thought that all the appointments this year were wrong. Sometimes I looked at the appointed referee; I knew the referee that way. Referees we had never heard of officiated our matches. I am open to this; of course, let them officiate. But in the past, they went through a process and took on more important matches.

They also suffered damage. I think this year is very different. There have been many appointments that surprised me this year.