French striker Bafétimbi Gomis, 36, is returning to Galatasaray, where he had already played for a season, the Turkish team, currently struggling in the league, announced on Wednesday. “Our club has reached an agreement for the transfer of footballer Bafétimbi Gomis,” the club said in a statement, without specifying the duration and terms of the contract.
A time anticipated on the side of Saint-Étienne during the winter transfer window, the Frenchman had worn the yellow and red colors of Galatasaray during the 2017-2018 season. He then finished top scorer in the league with 29 goals.
“Gomis likes Galatasaray a lot. He said he didn’t complete his task here. He is a player who can have a very positive impact on the team,” club president Burak Elmas said on Wednesday. The striker at the famous panther celebration had already said on Twitter on Sunday that he was “very happy to be back” in Istanbul, without the club confirming the signing of a contract.
Only one success in the last 12 league games
The former Saint-Étienne, OL and OM player in particular had joined Al-Hilal after his time at Galatasaray and notably won two Asian Champions Leagues with the Saudi club. Al-Hilal announced his departure last week after 151 games and 116 goals scored.
Vice-champions of Turkey last season, the “Lions” of Istanbul occupy 15th place in the standings after 23 days of the championship, with only three points ahead of the first relegated. The Istanbul club remains in particular on four defeats in a row in the league and has won only one of its last 12 games in “Super Lig”, the Turkish championship.
Galatasaray announced in early January the departure “by mutual agreement” of its star coach Fatih Terim, replaced a few days later by the Spaniard Domenec Torrent, former assistant to Pep Guardiola for ten years at FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
