Zalewski: ‘I was close to Galatasaray, but not best thing for me’ | OneFootball

Nicola Zalewski admits he was ‘very close’ to joining Galatasaray this summer, but turning them down to renegotiate a Roma contract was ‘the best thing for me.’

A deal had been done between the two clubs for over €10m plus add-ons, with a lucrative salary proposed to the player, but it all fell apart at the last minute.

“I won’t lie: I was very close to completing the transfer to Galatasaray,” he told TVP Sport while on international duty with Poland.

“There was a very good offer on the table, but I thought it over, I spoke to my family, and I think that I did what was the best thing for me.”

Zalewski welcomed back into Roma fold

The wing-back had been frozen out of the Roma squad following the refusal, much to the chagrin of first Daniele De Rossi and then Ivan Juric.

This was because his contract only runs to the end of this season, so they feared losing him as a free agent, which would be a devastating blow for their financial plans.

Now that he has started talks to pen a new and improved deal, Zalewski is back in the team and returned to the field against Monza.

“I have played recently and got back into the squad, so I am very happy. My objective is to play football and enjoy myself,” concluded Zalewski.

Although he was born and raised in Rome at the Giallorossi academy, he plays his international football for Poland, where his family originates from.