Galatasaray's new XI full of household names as Mata and Icardi seal transfers

The Turkish Super Lig has long held a reputation as a place for stars to continue their careers after spells in the biggest European leagues, but that has become even more true in the light of Galatasaray's recent business.

With rivals Besiktas turning to the Premier League to sign Dele Alli and Nathan Redmond, among others, Gala have been busy themselves. Juan Mata has moved to Istanbul after his release by Manchester United, while Argentina striker Mauro Icardi has joined on a season-long loan from Paris Saint-Germain.

The new arrivals aren't the only familiar faces at Nef Stadium this season. Here, Mirror Football provides a run-down of a possible starting XI for Okan Buruk's team which would incorporate names known to plenty of fans elsewhere in Europe.

Fernando Muslera

Uruguay goalkeeper Muslera has been a fixture at Galatasaray for more than a decade, having joined the club from Lazio back in 2011. The veteran, who is club captain, played his 400th Gala game last season.

He also has a century of caps for his country, representing Uruguay at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 World Cups. He played against England in the 2014 group stage as Oscar Tabarez's team ran out 2-1 winners.

Leo Dubois

Dubois is a new addition to Galatasaray's squad, having joined from Lyon over the summer. He arrives with some pedigree, though, having made it into a competitive France squad at Euro 2020 and also played in the UEFA Nations League final in 2021.

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The right-back is one of two French options in his position at club level, along with youngster Sacha Boey. His arrival in Turkey comes off the back of nearly 200 Ligue 1 appearances and 13 senior caps for Les Bleus.

Victor Nelsson

Danish international Nelsson joined from FC Copenhagen in 2021 and more or less immediately became a regular. While Galatasaray's results in the league last season weren't the best, the youngster was part of a defence that shut out Barcelona at Camp Nou in the Europa League.

With the 23-year-old at the back, Denmark sit top of their Nations League group. He played the full 90 minutes in a win away to France in June, as well as a victory in Austria.

Abdulkerim Bardakci

Bardakci is one of the less familiar names for many fans unfamiliar with the Super Lig. The centre-back has spent his entire career in Turkey, joining Galatasaray from Konyaspor over the summer.

The 28-year-old has made a mixed start to life in Istanbul. After helping his team earn three clean sheets in their first four games, he was sent off in Monday's narrow victory over Gazisehir.

Patrick van Aanholt

Dutch international Van Aanholt spent more than a decade in England before joining Galatasaray on a free transfer in 2021. The left-back began his career with Chelsea, making his senior debut as a teenager, but left Stamford Bridge after just eight appearances and a host of loans.

Van Aanholt racked up more than 200 Premier League appearances, the bulk of them for Sunderland and Crystal Palace. He was also part of the Dutch Euro 2020 squad, starting all three group games as well as the last-16 defeat against the Czech Republic.

Lucas Torreira

Torreira is one of a number of new additions in a busy summer for Galatasaray following their bottom-half finish last season. The Uruguayan joined from Arsenal, though he had not played a senior minute for the London side since 2020.

The Uruguay international played 89 times in two seasons for Arsenal, the bulk of them under Unai Emery. However, after loan spells at Atletico Madrid and Fiorentina, he decided to leave north London permanently.

Juan Mata

Mata is one of the more decorated members of a squad packed with household names. In addition to his 285 games for Manchester United, where he was briefly the club's record signing, he has a Champions League title to his name from his time at Chelsea.

The Spaniard was also part of his country's victorious 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 squads, scoring in the final of the latter. The last of his 41 international caps came in November 2016, when he played 45 minutes in a 2-2 friendly draw with England.

Milot Rashica

Mata isn't the only player from last season's Premier League to move to Galatasaray this summer. Rashica, one of the bigger signings who failed to keep Norwich City in the top flight last term, has joined on loan after playing four times for the Canaries in the Championship.

The Kosovo international will have plenty of competition for his place in the team. Turkish international Kerem Akturtoglu will be in the mix for a spot on the wing, while Yusuf Demir completed a deadline day move from Rapid Wien after spending time on loan at Barcelona last season.

Dries Mertens

Belgian veteran Mertens has added his name to the list of established internationals at the club. The 35-year-old arrives after nearly a decade at Napoli which included a Ballon d'Or shortlisting in 2017.

The former PSV Eindhoven man has racked up more than a century of caps for Belgium, helping Roberto Martinez's team reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2018. With 11 Serie A goals in his last Napoli season, fans will feel he still has plenty to offer.

Haris Seferovic

Seferovic joined Galatasaray over the summer after playing Champions League football for Benfica last season. The Swiss international played in a group stage draw away to Barcelona in November, and also scored his country's winning goal against Portugal over the summer.

The former Eintracht Frankfurt frontman is still just 30 years old, though he is coming off an injury-hit season in Lisbon. His loan move to Galatasaray will see him battle it out with former Swansea City and France striker Bafetimbi Gomis for a starting spot, with Icardi also part of the mix.

Mauro Icardi

If Galatasaray can get anything close to Mauro Icardi's Inter Milan form out of the Argentine, they'll be laughing. The striker scored 124 goals across six seasons with the Nerazzurri, including a career-best 29 in Serie A in the 2017-18 campaign.

Things have stalled somewhat for him in Paris, where he only reached double-figures in the league in one of his three seasons. There's still a player in there, though, even if a return to form in Turkey looks unlikely to lead him back into Lionel Scaloni's Argentina squad after a four-year absence.

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