10.09.2025 16:50
Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek spoke at the ordinary council meeting in September. Discussing the financial structure, Dursun Özbek made a reference to their competitors, stating, "They have turned to non-operating revenues to do something similar to what we did 7 years ago. This shows the difference between Galatasaray and our other competitors. Those who criticized us back then are now copying what we are doing today."
Galatasaray Club President Dursun Özbek stated that the establishment of facilities and financial structure is very important for sporting success.
METIN OKTAY REMEMBERED
President Özbek made statements at the ordinary council meeting held at Galatasaray High School in September. At the beginning of his speech, Dursun Özbek remembered Duygun Yarsuvat, one of Galatasaray's former presidents who passed away on September 10, 2021, and the legendary football player of the yellow-reds, Metin Oktay, who passed away on September 13, 1991.
'WE HAVE NO DEBT'
Özbek stated that they set goals for the club from the very first moment they took office as a management, saying, "Due to the mission it has undertaken, sporting success always comes first. I am proud of what we have done for the financial structure. We have kept our promises. We have obligations for the future. These obligations must be met with the activities within that year. We have achieved this with the activities we have carried out so far. We have cleared the tax debts from the past. We have no overdue debts to athletes." he stated.
'GALATASARAY IS TURKEY'S MOST VALUABLE SPORTS CLUB'
Özbek, stating that they have increased their capital to 13.5 billion lira after the increase, said, "When you look at the stock market values, Galatasaray Sportif AŞ is the most valuable sports club in Turkey with a value of 21.2 billion lira. No one needs to say, 'We are valuable.' Galatasaray Club is Turkey's most valuable sports club." he said.
'WE MADE A BIG MOVE REGARDING FACILITIES'
Özbek, stating that Galatasaray Club had a facility problem in the past, said, "Our facilities are either very old or non-existent. We made a big move regarding facilities. First, we moved from Florya to Kemerburgaz in football. We said that we would carry out the construction here in 2 phases. We completed the first phase. We built a magnificent facility for our team competing in the Super League. The new players we have transferred express this very clearly. Our valuable footballers who have played in teams like Barcelona and Manchester City say that this facility has no equal even in Europe. We have infrastructure facilities under construction. We are currently applying for a permit." he stated.
'THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US AND OUR RIVALS'
Özbek emphasized that Galatasaray has sports activities outside of football and noted:
"We have 17 more branches. We are experiencing difficulties in the activities of many of them. For this reason, we had acquired approximately 60 acres of land right next to the stadium for the club. We are at the permit stage for the facility where we will conduct volleyball, basketball, swimming, and indoor sports. We will start construction here as soon as possible. During the years 2016-2017, when I was president again, we were talking about our projects with my friends. At that time, we received warnings. Especially the presidents and managers of rival teams had mocked us by calling us 'Galatasaray Construction AŞ.' Now today we see that they have turned to non-operating income to do something similar to what we did 7 years ago. This shows the biggest difference between Galatasaray and our other rivals. Those who criticized us back then are now copying what we are doing."
'WE WILL USE IT FOR AMATEUR SPORTS'
Özbek emphasized that sporting success is very important for Galatasaray, saying, "Sporting success cannot be achieved without correcting the financial structure and establishing facilities. We must achieve success in non-football branches as well. We will collect the resources we produce from projects in a fund and use the returns in amateur sports." he stated.
'550 VILLAS BELONGING TO GALATASARAY'
Özbek stated that they have completed the tender for the Florya project, saying, "With the advance we received from there, we paid off our debt to the Banks Association. Our second phase of construction has also started in Riva. There are approximately 550 villas belonging to Galatasaray there. Sales are ongoing. About 70 villas have been sold. We also have a construction in Mecidiyeköy. Within the framework of the contract we made with our valuable sponsor RAMS, our construction has also started there. They will complete the entire construction and deliver it to us by the beginning of May. We have started the construction of the infrastructure section in our facilities in Kemerburgaz. We had promised that we would rebuild Galatasaray Island. I am happy that we have fulfilled this promise." he stated.