Leeds have had a brilliant season as they sit in 11th place in their first season back in the Premier League after a 16 year absence. Many fans were looking forward to seeing how the club would improve the squad during the upcoming transfer window, but they won’t like the most recent development.
Fan favourite Gjanni Alioski is set to agree a deal with Turkish club Galatasaray, with his current deal set to expire in the summer. Alioski has grown into a fan favourite at Elland Road following his move in 2017, mostly due to his antics whenever the cameras are on him.
The Macedonia international often causes havoc in the pre match videos shown on the club’s Twitter account, leading to them being nicknamed ‘Gjanni cam’. But Alioski’s reputation, in the eyes of the fans at least, will take a complete nosedive if he were to join Galatasary of all clubs.
Leeds fans Chris Loftus and Kevin Speight were stabbed in Istanbul whilst attending a UEFA Cup semi final in April 2000. Galatasaray refused to condemn the fans responsible for the deaths, and a bitter hatred has existed between the clubs ever since.
Alioski was a member of the Leeds side that finally won promotion from the Championship last year and would be held in high regard by the Elland Road faithful forever if he weren’t to make this move. Harry Kewell was one of Leeds United’s best ever Premier League players, yet many fans have chosen to wipe him from their memory when reminiscing over their history due to his transfer from Liverpool to Galatasaray in 2008. It was even worse in Kewell’s case as he played for Leeds at the time of the incident.
Turkish newspaper Milliyet are reporting that Alioski has rejected Leeds’ latest contract offer and is prepared to sign for Galatasaray very soon. If Alioski wants to retain his reputation in West Yorkshire, he needs to think very carefully about his next move.
