Hakim Ziyech announces Galatasaray exit, slams coach Buruk
Hakim Ziyech announces Galatasaray exit, slams coach Buruk. Morocco international Hakim Ziyech on Thursday confirmed he would be leaving Turkish club Galatasaray after slamming the club’s management and head coach, Okan Buruk.
Ziyech, whose relationship with the Turkish champions has visibly turned sore, announced he is ready to leave the club as early as the winter transfer window in January 2025.
“Galatasaray, it’s over for me, I told them I’m leaving in January. They don’t ask me anything anymore, I do what I want,” the 31-year-old said.
“I’ve never seen such a bad coach as Okan Buruk. If Galatasaray can win the title? I don’t care… Leave me alone, no matter what happens. I already regret coming.
“I was supposed to leave at the beginning of the season, but they didn’t want to. I’m leaving in January.”
Hakim Ziyech initially joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan from Premier League side Chelsea in the 2023-24 campaign. The move, however, became permanent in June, following a fairly good loan spell.
The former Ajax star has played 34 times for Galatasaray, scoring eight goals and providing five assists. He, has, however found game time hard to come by this season, having featured 11 times in all competitions but only five times in the Turkish Super Lig.
The winter transfer window in Turkey opens on 13 January 2025 and closes on 11 February.
