Bye-Bye Bayern, Hello Galatasaray: Leroy Sané's Controversial Exit Draws Fire
FC Bayern's Leroy Sané Continues to Draw Scrutiny and Criticism Up until the Final Whistle
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Email Print Copy Link As Leroy Sané prepares to bid farewell to FC Bayern in a few days, Michael Ballack joins the chorus of critics, citing his performances as a symbol of his unproductive tenure in Munich. Manual Neuer, however, will miss the enigmatic winger heading to Istanbul.
Sáné's final days with FC Bayern are met with harsh critiques, even as his departure nears. In a matter of days, the winger will officially part ways with Germany and join Galatasaray Istanbul. Yet, Sáné's performance, his personality - it seems there's always more to question. No place for errors, it seems, not even before his final goodbye at the German record champions on Sunday (8 pm DAZN and Sat.1) during the Club World Cup round of 16 against Flamengo.
"The book should be closed now," ex-German national team captain Michael Ballack remarked after Sáné's performance in the last group game against Benfica Lisbon (0:1). Sáné missed multiple scoring opportunities, and Bayern missed their chance at the equalizer and a group victory. Sáné, unfortunately, took the blame for the team's failures once again.
"Reflective of his tenure" in Munich
Sáné's performance was, according to Ballack, "emblematic of his time" in Munich "and emblematic of the transfer" to Galatasaray Istanbul on July 1. The winger's performance, Ballack stated, was ultimately "disappointing for the team" and has been lacking the "concentration, charisma, and seriousness in approaching chances."
Criticisms like these cast a wide net for speculation that Sáné's transfer can be seen as an escape. While every error of his is still parsing under scrutiny at Bayern, fans and journalists in Istanbul welcomed him with open arms, embracing him like a long-awaited savior. "I was overwhelmed by their enthusiasm," Sáné said at his contract signing.
Neuer: "It's a loss for us"
But: They wanted him at Bayern too. Not least his soon-to-be former teammates would have welcomed Sáné's continued stay. No sense of frustration was noted, as alleged by Ballack. "He has to decide for himself," said captain Manuel Neuer: "It's a loss for us because we'll be losing an important player." Sáné, Neuer added, "was a pleasure to play alongside. I'll miss him." Even at the Club World Cup, Sáné, despite his pending departure, was "giving his all," Neuer praised: "He's trying to show his class and play for the team."
It's likely Sáné will do so once more on Sunday. While Michael Olise and Kingsley Coman are anticipated to start in the knockout phase, it's also plausible coach Vincent Kompany will offer Sáné a few final minutes in the Bayern jersey before it's all said and done with his tenure in Munich - and the criticism.
As Sáné departs, his departure reflects both financial and professional ambitions that did not align with Bayern's plans. His choice of Galatasaray, offering a reported €9 million per year, was likely more enticing than Bayern's supposed final deal. Leaving behind a trail of criticism, Sáné embarks on a new journey, seeking a fresh start outside Germany.
Source: ntv.de, tno/sid
- Leroy Sané
- Football
- FC Bayern Munich
Enrichment Data:
Over the course of the 2024-2025 season, Sáné expressed a desire to remain at Bayern Munich but only under a contract that met his financial expectations. The situation escalated when Sáné changed his agency to Pini Zahavi, a high-profile agent, signaling he was seeking a contract with higher remuneration than Bayern was willing to offer. Bayern reportedly offered a salary package around €10 million plus additional bonuses totaling about €5 million, but Sáné and his representatives pushed for more, leading to a breakdown in talks and no new agreement reached despite multiple negotiations[2].
This standoff led to a perception among fans and the media that Sáné was prioritizing his salary demands over staying loyal to the club, which fueled criticism. Furthermore, Bayern’s decision to include Sáné in the FIFA Club World Cup squad while he was already set to leave raised eyebrows and sparked debate among fans and pundits, with some viewing it as an awkward situation given his imminent departure and reportedly mixed support within the club. Legendary former Bayern player Lothar Matthäus acknowledged Sáné’s talent but noted he faced "heavy criticism in Munich from fans and media" and that not everyone at Bayern fully backed him during his time there[5].
- The community of Bayern Munich fans and media have been critical of Leroy Sane's decision to prioritize financial ambitions over staying loyal to the club, as he is leaving for Galatasaray Istanbul.
- Despite the controversy surrounding his departure, Leroy Sane has been welcomed with open arms by the sports community in Istanbul, who view him as a potential savior.
