Gabriel Sara: I received some offers from the Premier League but none of them showed the interest that Galatasaray did

Galatasaray's Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Sara made special statements to ESPN Brazil about his career, his transfer to Galatasaray, his national team dream and many other topics.

The Brazilian player, who said that his defensive game has improved a lot in Europe, said, “I think my defensive game has improved a lot in Europe. Here I play in a more offensive position. In England, I stepped back a little more and played like a midfielder. I think I have improved a lot defensively. I have also gained a little more muscle mass physically. So I can say that my physical game has improved a lot, but I also think my psychological game has improved a lot.”

'I WAS MY FAMILY'S HOPE FOR A NEW LIFE'

Sara, who stated that she was the hope of her family like many football players in Brazil, said, "I think like 95% of football players in Brazil, I was the hope of my family for a new life. So I had this thought in my head: 'Come on, I have to do this.' I don't want to be a player who will be loaned to the second or third league. Things are not going well, you know?"

'I RECEIVED SOME OFFERS FROM THE PREMIER LEAGUE BUT NONE OF THEM SHOWED THE INTEREST THAT GALATASARAY SHOWED'

The 26-year-old player, who stated that he did not want to come to Türkiye when his wife was pregnant, said, "Galatasaray was the team that made the most effort to transfer me. I also received some offers from the Premier League, but I think none of them showed the interest that Galatasaray did. At first, I did not want to go to Türkiye. I always say this because my wife was pregnant and the time of birth was very close. So it would have been a big change, but the opportunity to play in the Champions League or the Europa League weighed more. If I did not have the opportunity to play in the Premier League, I would have wanted to play in a league as good as that. I wanted to experience different things in a competitive league with big clubs. I think that's why I chose Galatasaray, and to be honest, it was a great choice."

'THERE WERE MOMENTS WHEN I HAD TO HIDE MYSELF'

Sara, who said that she sometimes walked around Istanbul in disguise, said, "People gave me free things on the street because I am a football player. There were times when I had to disguise myself because we are in a historical city. I like to see touristic places and things, but my husband and I can't go there like that. Then there came a time when I had to wear a hat and glasses."

'MY TRANSFER TO GALATASARAY WAS MADE WITH THE BRAZILIAN NATIONAL TEAM IN MIND'

Gabriel Sara added that he was thinking about the Brazilian National Team while transferring to the red-yellow team and said:

"The most important one is the Brazilian National Team. So much so that my transfer to Galatasaray was made with the Brazilian National Team in mind. I think I dream of the yellow Brazilian jersey with every step I take on the field."

'MY HEART BLASPLED WHEN I SAW ALEX'

Gabriel Sara, who expressed his admiration for Fenerbahçe's legendary Alex de Souza, said, "I was always a big fan of Alex and we played against them. He was working in Antalya. We greeted each other in the locker room and I was focused on the match until I saw him. When I saw him, my heart pounded. I greeted him, I didn't know what to say because he was the representative of the other side. At that moment, I felt a chill in my stomach. My friend, this is Alex. Then we followed each other on Instagram. He even messaged me, we chatted a little. I think I'm a little calmer now, but that moment was surreal."

Saying that legendary French footballer Zinedine Zidane is a fun name to watch, Sara made the following statement:

"There was one guy I always admired, and that was Zidane. His behaviour on the pitch, the way he would drive the ball to both sides with both feet... Incredible elegance, his control of the ball was surreal, the ball never left his feet. So I loved watching him. If I had to say a player who was elegant and enjoyable to watch, it would be Zidane."

When asked "Which is the most annoying fan group you have ever encountered?", the Brazilian football player answered with one word: "Fenerbahçe".

DHA

Reporter: News Center