Matthäus: Sané should be at World Cup if he delivers for Galatasaray
Germany's Leroy Sane in action during the UEFA Nations League semi final soccer match between Germany and Portugal at Allianz Arena. Sven Hoppe/dpa
Former Germany and Bayern Munich captain Lothar Matthäus has welcomed Leroy Sané's move to Galatasaray and believes he has a good chance of retaining his place in the national team and playing at the 2026 World Cup if he delivers for the Istanbul club.
"It is up to Leroy: If he performs for Gala in the league and in the Champions League as well he has a very good chance to play at the World Cup," Matthäus told Saturday's Bild paper.
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Germany winger Sané, 29, joined Turkish domestic double winners Galatasaray in mid-week on a three-year contract on a free transfer after five seasons at Bayern Munich.
Matthäus, who led Germany to the 1990 World Cup title, spoke of a "super" transfer for Sané and a big statement by Galatasaray.
"Galatasaray have ambitions, a big budget, Turkish football has become stronger, the time of scandals is over," he said.
He praised "super stadiums" in Turkey, and good coaches "who have brought calm to the clubs."
Matthäus said that Sané never had this kind of standing in Munich which resulted in renewal talks collapsing because the club wanted him to accept a pay cut.
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"The club didn't really want to keep him. While other players got considerably more money in their renewals, Bayern went on the salary brakes with him," Matthäus said.
"Bayern never really fought for Sané."
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