Inter Milan legend Wesley Sneijder has recalled the time he decided to join Galatasaray instead of Liverpool in a recent appearance on Dutch television.
Speaking in 2018, Sneijder revealed he wanted to move to Galatasaray because he believed the Turkish giants were more likely to win silverware than Brendan Rodgers’ team. The former Netherlands international, 38, has now doubled down on those claims.
Yet Sneijder has also insisted that he was concerned about English football’s hectic Christmas period. The Champions League winner made the revelations while discussing Cody Gakpo’s recent move from PSV Eindhoven to Liverpool on a Dutch chat show.
“I once had the choice to join Liverpool or Galatasaray,” Sneijder told Veronica Offside. “At that moment, I chose Galatasaray because I wanted to win more trophies and Liverpool was in a [difficult] period… I just chose trophies because that is the best thing that a footballer wants to win, those prizes.”
Sneijder went on to say: “Also, the fact that I just wanted to be free at Christmas and New Year’s Eve. That was also a conscious choice.”
During the 2013-14 campaign – Sneijder’s first season at Galatasaray – the Turkish giants did not play a single Super Lig fixture between December 28 and January 26. In comparison, Liverpool were involved in four Premier League games during that period.
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Sneijder’s decision to join Galatasaray in January 2013 was vindicated. He played 175 games for the Turkish giants during a four-and-a-half-year spell and won eight trophies – including two Super Lig titles. Liverpool, meanwhile, failed to win silverware during that time.
Sneijder is regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation. He won trophies in five different countries – as well as the Champions League – and played for Ajax, Real Madrid and Inter. He also played in the 2010 World Cup final, which Spain won 1-0.
Speaking about Liverpool’s interest in 2018, Sneijder said: “Many clubs wanted to know when I was leaving Inter, and Liverpool was one of those clubs, so people were surprised I chose Galatasaray. Why Galatasaray and not Liverpool?
“But I am a winner, I play for prizes, so I went to Galatasaray because I thought that I would win more at Galatasaray and be champion than at Liverpool, and I think afterwards that I made the right choice. I have had nice years in Turkey.”
Although Liverpool did not win any trophies during Sneijder’s time at Galatasaray, they have achieved plenty of success since the start of the 2018/19 campaign under Rodgers’ successor Jurgen Klopp – winning the Premier League title, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Community Shield, European Super Cup and Club World Cup.
In comparison, Galatasaray have won just three trophies during that time – the Super Lig title, the Turkish Cup and the Turkish Super Cup. Okan Buruk’s side are currently four points clear of Fenerbahce in second at the top of the Super Lig table.
