Galatasaray to extend contract with Muslera as goalie undergoes surgery after breaking leg

Duvar English 

The Galatasaray football club will extend the contract for its injured goalkeeper Fernando Muslera for another two years, said the club's vice chair Abdürrahim Albayrak.

The Uruguay international broke his tibia and fibula bones after a collision with another player in the 15th minute of a match with Çaykur Rizespor earlier this week. Muslera was rushed to the hospital following the incident and underwent a surgery.

Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim announced on June 16 that Muslera is in good condition and his surgery was successful.

Terim visited Muslera in Liv Hospital Ulus as they both conveyed their wishes and celebrated Muslera's 34th birthday.

"We talked to him and his wife. Muslera means more than just a goalkeeper to us. We will feel his absence. Hopefully, he will return as soon as possible," Terim told reporters outside the hospital.

Fenerbahçe chair Ali Koç also visited the goalkeeper at the hospital.

Galatasaray Football Team Doctor Yener İnce said that the operation was successful and Muslera will return to the fields in nearly six months.

The goalkeeper was discharged from the hospital on June 18.

Turkey's top-tier Süper Lig resumed matches on June 12, in a decision that has been controversial amid the coronavirus pandemic. The matches are being played without fans.

Despite the massive popularity of football in Turkey, its major clubs are saddled with debt as they are paying the salaries of foreign players in hard currencies while the lira has taken a nosedive in value over the past several years, reaching record lows against the dollar earlier this year.

Muslera, who is one of the integral parts of Galatasaray and fans' favorite, joined the Istanbul club in 2011 summer.

The 34-year-old had 361 appearances for his club as he is a five-time Turkish champion with Galatasaray (2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2019).

The Uruguayan goalie is also a regular international for his country since 2009, having 116 international appearances.