Legendary GK Fernando Muslera Announces Exit From Galatasaray After 14 Seasons | Football News

Galatasaray is set to bid farewell to their loyal Uruguayan legend, Fernando Muslera, marking the end of an era.

Muslera confirmed his departure from Galatasaray on Thursday, announcing that after 14 seasons with the Turkish club, he plans to continue his career in South America.

The Uruguayan, who turns 39 on June 16, revealed at a press conference that he will play his 551st and final game for Galatasaray in Friday evening’s Super Lig season finale against Basaksehir.

“I’m going to continue playing, closer to my homeland… closer to my family,” Muslera said, without specifying which league or club he will join.

Since leaving Lazio, where he won the Coppa Italia, in 2011, Muslera has become the most capped foreign player in Galatasaray’s history.

The Uruguayan has also secured a joint-record eight league titles, along with six Turkish Super Cups and five Turkish Cups.

In a social media message, Galatasaray praised their captain, calling him a club “legend” and acknowledging that he had become “much more than a goalkeeper.”

Indeed, Muslera played a crucial role in helping Galatasaray secure their 25th Turkish SuperLig title. He scored the final goal, a penalty in the 89th minute, during their 3-0 victory against Kayserispor.

During his 550th appearance for Galatasaray, Muslera appeared to apologize to Kayserispor’s goalkeeper Bayazit, who had guessed the right direction but couldn’t stop the shot.

Muslera’s teammates celebrated the victory enthusiastically with him, and the win ensured that Galatasaray qualified for next season’s UEFA Champions League group stage, having only lost one league game to Besiktas in March.

Capped 133 times by Uruguay, Muslera was the starting goalkeeper at the 2010, 2014, and 2018 World Cups. He stepped down to a backup role for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar before retiring from international football in April 2024.