Leroy Sané loves ‘incredible atmosphere’ at Galatasaray

Istanbul—When Leroy Sané swapped the red of Bayern Munich for the yellow-and-red of Galatasaray this summer, the move was framed as a career reboot. Three months in, the 30-year-old German winger says the decision has already exceeded expectations, thanks largely to the cauldron inside Rams Park.

“Of course, I had to settle in first,” Sané told Sky Germany in an exclusive interview, reflecting on a slow-burn start to life in the Süper Lig. “I had an adjustment period, so things didn’t quite go as planned on the pitch at the beginning. I had to get to know my teammates, and they had to get to know me—how to interact on the pitch, how to play together. That took a little while. But now, in the last few games, I’m very happy with my performances and how I’ve played. I want to carry this momentum forward and keep going.”

Sané’s upturn in form has coincided with Galatasaray’s headline-grabbing European run. A seismic 1-0 victory over Liverpool in September was followed by a 5-2 demolition of Juventus in the first leg of the Champions League knock-out play-in round, putting the Turkish giants within touching distance of the last 16.

The winger credits the terraces for the surge. “I’ve already had the chance to play here with Bayern—the atmosphere was incredible back then,” he recalled of the 2023 group-stage clash in which he supplied the opening assist in a 3-1 Bavarian win. “But now in the league, it’s special every time. This atmosphere gives you a huge boost. The Liverpool game was even more extreme, of course. You don’t experience games like that very often, and I’m simply grateful to be able to enjoy it at almost every home game. I want to give my best on the pitch and give something back to the fans, because they really create an incredible atmosphere.”

With Galatasaray’s European dream alive and domestic momentum building, Sané’s next objective is clear: cement a place in Germany’s World Cup squad. After a stop-start beginning, the winger believes his Turkish adventure has provided the perfect platform to remind national-team selectors of his pedigree.

For now, though, he is content to savour the noise. “Almost every home game feels like a final,” he said. “When that crowd roars, you understand why players want to test themselves in environments like this.”