According to German media outlet t-online, Galatasaray president Dursun Özbek has responded to recent rumors that Icardi wishes to return to the club. He denied the possibility of the forward's return and stated that the club is considering holding a formal farewell ceremony for Icardi, currently awaiting the player's response.

Icardi's contract with Galatasaray expired at the end of last season, and since then, there have been reports that the Argentine forward hopes to return to Istanbul. However, Özbek's latest statements indicate that the club has no plans to re-sign him.

Özbek revealed that the club had previously offered Icardi a contract extension, but the player had higher expectations, and the differences between the two parties were not solely financial.

Explaining the true reason for Icardi's departure, Özbek pointed out that the presence of Osimhen was a crucial factor the club had to consider.

Özbek said: "The issue is not primarily about his salary, but that we already have a striker like Osimhen. How can we arrange for both of them to play at the same time? And who should we choose to start? That is the real problem."

"This does not involve issues like guaranteeing his playing time. We have never denied his contributions to the club, and I have personally expressed this to him."

Meanwhile, Özbek stated that Galatasaray hopes to bid farewell to Icardi in a formal manner, but the specific arrangements depend on the player's wishes.

He said: "I am waiting for his reply regarding a farewell ceremony. If he is willing to come back for it, we will arrange a farewell ceremony for him."

Özbek then reaffirmed Icardi's contributions during his time at Galatasaray, while also discussing the inevitable issues of age and form in professional football.

Özbek stated: "He joined the team during my tenure as president, and he brought a lot to Galatasaray. But that's football; every player has their own stage."

"As players get older, their performance may decline, but they must always maintain the highest level. You also know our fans; if a player performs poorly for two consecutive games, things can develop into a completely different situation."

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