Galatasaray’s experienced striker Mauro Icardi addressed the media ahead of training, sharing his thoughts on captaining the team, his personal objectives, and the club’s ambitions both domestically and in Europe. The Argentine forward expressed pride, determination, and a deep emotional connection with the fans as he prepares for another competitive season.
Proud to Wear the Captain’s Armband
Icardi opened the press conference by reflecting on the honor of taking over the captaincy from long-time leader Fernando Muslera.
“Starting a new season is exciting. Taking the captain’s armband from Muslera after so many years is a huge honor. I have always represented this club with pride and have tried to help my teammates in every way I can,” he said.
Eager to Return to Action
Having trained with the team for a month, Icardi emphasized his readiness to step onto the pitch.
“I’ve been training with the squad for the past month and I want to play my first match as soon as possible. We have many goals this season — competing at the highest level and winning the league again. We’ve been champions three years in a row, and our priority is to continue that. I’ve missed Galatasaray and can’t wait to be back with our fans,” he added.
Farewell to Dries and Nando, Welcome to New Faces
Speaking about the departure of Dries Mertens and Fernando Muslera, Icardi admitted their absence would be felt.
“Atmosphere-wise, Dries and Nando will be missed. They were important characters and we loved having them here. But now we have new players with charisma joining us. We are a big family — beyond football, we share real friendships. That’s what brought us championships. Spending every day together has created an environment where success is possible,” he said.
A Personal Debt to Repay Through Goals and Titles
Reflecting on his journey since joining Galatasaray three years ago, Icardi described his mission in personal terms.
“When I first arrived, it was a new challenge for me. Now I look back with pride at what we’ve achieved together — the club, the fans, the children. We’ve built a unique bond and deepened their love for Galatasaray. I feel it’s my responsibility to repay that by scoring goals and winning championships,” he stated.
Comment on Kerem Aktürkoğlu’s Potential Transfer
Addressing speculation about teammate Kerem Aktürkoğlu possibly moving to Fenerbahçe, Icardi remained diplomatic.
“Kerem… This is football. Could it happen? Maybe, maybe not. He played yesterday, he’s still a Benfica player. He was very important for Galatasaray and grew alongside the club. I wish him all the best. He’s valuable to me and I enjoyed our time together. His career choices are his own — for himself and for the national team,” Icardi commented.
Aiming for Domestic Dominance and European Progress
Looking ahead to the new campaign, Icardi set clear targets.
“The club’s goal is to keep winning, to become champions for the fourth time in a row. Since I arrived, our only objective has been to be the best in Türkiye — and we’ve achieved that. In the Champions League, we aim to go as far as possible. With the new format, we’ll have four home matches. Visiting teams know how special an experience it is to play here, and that will help us. Every player wants to win and go far — we’ll focus on each match step by step,” he said.
Excited to Play Alongside Osimhen Again
Icardi also spoke about his partnership with Victor Osimhen, which was limited last season due to various circumstances.
“Unfortunately, last year we played only a few matches together, but they were very enjoyable. We didn’t get to experience it for the whole season. This year, we want to continue. We have many players performing well and pushing hard in training. Together, we’ll fight to win. Victor was the top scorer last season, and I’m sure we’ll enjoy playing together again,” he concluded.
