Much more talked about than Zaha”: Turkish media now say 30-year-old has been overshadowed after Palace exit
Much more talked about than Zaha”: Turkish media now say 30-year-old has been overshadowed after Palace exit
Crystal Palace lost club legend Wilfried Zaha on a free transfer in the summer as the winger joined Galatasaray, but he has not had the easiest start at his new club.
The Turkish side pulled off a coup as they managed to lure Zaha and a number of other top-flight stars such as Hakim Ziyech and Mauro Icardi to the club this summer, and they are currently unbeaten with nine wins from their first ten league games.
However, Zaha’s start at Galatasaray has not been plain sailing, and he has been overshadowed by a former Premier League flop who also moved this summer.
Zaha overshadowed at Galatasaray
Turkish outlet Sporx has now claimed that Zaha has been outshone by Davinson Sanchez, who joined from Spurs this summer after a few poor years in North London.
Sanchez has been exceptional in Turkey and has relegated Victor Nelsson to a bench role. His arrival has been the most impressive of them all, whilst Kenny Tete, Cedric Bakambu and Ziyech have been disappointing.
When the 30-year-old arrived in Istanbul this summer, he was carrying an injury which prevented him from starting the season fully fit.
Having spent the vast majority of his career at Selhurst Park, it was always going to take him time to settle and adapt to a new side, especially given his injury and the high squad turnover at his club.
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Zaha has now scored twice in 11 appearances across all competitions, which included a goal against his former side Manchester United in the Champions League. He has only played 38% of his side’s possible minutes so far, and as he builds up fitness and adapts, he should begin to shine soon.
It is too early to say whether Zaha would have been better off staying at Crystal Palace, but given that Roy Hodgson’s side have struggled in front of goal, it is clear that he has been a big miss.
