Galatasaray's Batrakov: Süper Lig Is No Retirement League
Galatasaray midfielder Aleksey Batrakov rejects the idea that Süper Lig is a retirement stop and takes a subtle jab at Fenerbahçe's older squad.
Aleksey Batrakov has pushed back against the widespread belief that the Turkish Süper Lig is where footballers go to wind down their careers. The Russian midfielder, speaking about life at Galatasaray, insisted that the label simply does not fit the club he plays for.
"I can't say that the players coming to the Turkish league arrive to spend the final stage of their careers," Batrakov said. He then added a remark that is sure to be noticed across Istanbul: "Maybe the players at Fenerbahçe are a little older, but there is no such situation in our team."
A dressing room full of stars
Batrakov also admitted that the quality of the Galatasaray squad caught him off guard. He said he was surprised by how many big names the Istanbul giants have assembled, yet stressed that the atmosphere is anything but distant. "You can communicate with everyone easily," he explained, suggesting he has settled in quickly among the club's established figures.
Rivalry adds spice to his words
Any comment comparing Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe carries extra weight, given that the two clubs are fierce city rivals and regular title contenders in Turkey's top flight. Batrakov's hint that the yellow-and-navy side relies on older players is likely to fuel debate among supporters of both camps, and it revives the wider discussion about the kind of foreign players the Süper Lig attracts.
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