Hasheminassab linked with Galatasaray

Asian-Football - Iranian international defender Mahdi Hasheminassab has been linked with a move to Turkish football, according to a news report from Tehran.

Hasheminassab, who created controversy in his home country two years ago when he became the first player to move from Tehran club Pirouzi to bitter local rivals Esteghlal, is being courted by Turkish league giants Galatasaray.

According to the report, Galatasaray have faxed an offer to Esteghlal and have invited the player and club chairman Ali Fatollahzadeh to Istanbul to discuss the terms of a possible transfer and new contract.

However, Fatollahzadeh could prove a stumbling block as he is reportedly weary about the Turkish club's ability to honour the deal financially and wants assurances before letting the transfer of Hasheminassab go through.

Galatasaray are one of Turkey's leading teams and were the first club from the country to win a European honour when they captured the UEFA Cup in 2000. They made it to the second stage of this year's European Champions League but were eliminated from a tough group that included European giants Barcelona, Liverpool and Roma.