Yıldırım wins as Safi concedes, Muriqi deal already lined up

Hakan Safi concedes defeat

Hakan Safi has admitted he lost the Fenerbahçe presidential election. The candidate who built his campaign on blockbuster transfer promises, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Mason Greenwood, Luis Suárez, Merih Demiral, told supporters he "had already signed contracts" but the deals are now dead (7). Aziz Yıldırım is set to take the presidency, and the power shift is immediate: Yıldırım already has his own pre-agreement with Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi on standby (5). The 12-year Süper Lig title drought hangs over everything.

Suárez and Greenwood: the deals that vanish

Two of Safi's headline promises collapse instantly. Luis Suárez stays at Sporting, he was never on his way to Istanbul, and the Portuguese club now feels vindicated (2) (7). Mason Greenwood won't be leaving Roma either. The Serie A side can breathe, with the Italian press calling the election result "good news for Roma" (9).

Yıldırım moves fast: Muriqi agreement in place

Aziz Yıldırım isn't waiting. Reports from Spain say he has a pre-agreement with Mallorca for Vedat Muriqi, with the Kosovo striker described as having one and a half feet already in the door (5). It signals Yıldırım's intent to deliver his own marquee signing immediately.

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Sörloth could slip away

While Fenerbahçe sorts out the boardroom, a transfer target is moving elsewhere. Alexander Sörloth, on Fenerbahçe's list, is now heading toward Juventus (4). The Norwegian striker looks set for Turin while the club's attention was consumed by the election.

Villarreal circling for Asensio

Marco Asensio is on Villarreal's radar. The Spanish club wants the Fenerbahçe winger, and with the presidential transition underway, his future is suddenly uncertain (8). No bid confirmed yet, but the interest is real.

İrfan Can Eğribayat returns

Some normalcy: goalkeeper İrfan Can Eğribayat is back at the club. He returned to training this week after his time away (3). A small piece of stability in a chaotic period.

Fan reactions

The mood among Fenerbahçe fans on Reddit is one of relief mixed with gallows humor. Supporters are calling the Safi saga "the end of a short novela," with many across rival subreddits, Roma and Sporting fans among them, celebrating that their players are staying put. The Greenwood promise in particular has drawn sharp criticism, with Roma supporters outright rejecting the idea of the move. Read the full thread here.

Sources

  • 2. record.pt — Fora da rota turca: Suárez deixa de ser hipótese no Fenerbahçe mas Mundial pode abrir outras portas
  • 3. hurriyet.com.tr — İrfan Can Eğribayat, Fenerbahçe'ye döndü!
  • 4. hurriyet.com.tr — Fenerbahçe'nin listesindeki Sörloth, Juventus yolunda!
  • 5. marca.com — Muriqi, con pie y medio en el Fenerbahçe
  • 7. sapo.pt — Hakan Safi assume derrota, Suárez seguro em Alvalade
  • 8. fichajes.net — El Villarreal CF se lanza a por Marco Asensio
  • 9. corrieredellosport.it — Fenerbahce, Hakan Safi perde le elezioni: aveva promesso di acquistare Greenwood
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