Galatasaray's new 21-year-old signing Aleksey Batrakov has spoken of his homesickness for Russia following his call-up to the national team. The young footballer detailed his settling-in process in Turkey and the support he received from teammate Lucas Torreira.
Batrakov said, "I went to a restaurant three times in the first week and ate kebab. Now I am a bit calmer," describing his initial adaptation period. The player, who hasn't been in Russia for a year, expressed missing Moscow, his friends, and the atmosphere at his former club Lokomotiv. He added that his home is now organized, his wife cooks, and his family has visited. He also noted that meals are provided at the club's facilities.
TORREIRA'S SUPPORT
Batrakov highlighted that Lucas Torreira specifically approached him when he joined the team, stating, "Lucas Torreira came to me especially, encouraged me and said, 'If anything happens, call me, write to me'." He emphasized this support positively contributed to his adaptation.
Stating that playing in the Champions League with Galatasaray was a childhood dream, Batrakov described the match atmosphere in Turkey as indescribable and recommended anyone who hasn't experienced it to attend a game. He underlined that representing the Russian national team is an honour, regardless of which club he plays for.
Sitting second in the Süper Lig with 13 points from 6 matches, Galatasaray's recent form reads three wins and two losses from their last five games. The team's next fixtures include a home match against Kasımpaşa on October 9th. Victor Osimhen leads the team's scoring charts this season with 6 goals.
More detail at Fotomac
