The key facts

  • Batrakov scored a brace against Stuttgart in the 12th and 15th minutes and was named man of the match
  • Prudnikov: if Batrakov does not slow down, he will move to an even more top-level European team
  • The summer 2026 transfer from Lokomotiv to Galatasaray cost €25 million plus bonuses, with a contract until June 30, 2031

A Champions League brace and Prudnikov's comment

Former Moscow Spartak striker Alexander Prudnikov has advised Galatasaray forward Alexey Batrakov not to slow down. According to him, Batrakov is already playing for a big club, but if he keeps improving, he will 'certainly move to an even more top-level European team.' Prudnikov's remarks were cited by Match TV, and they were also reported by Gazeta.Ru.

The match against Stuttgart

The occasion for the assessment was the Champions League match on November 3, in which Galatasaray beat Stuttgart 2:0. Batrakov started the game and scored a brace, netting his goals three minutes apart — in the 12th and 15th minutes. He was substituted in the 77th minute and was named man of the match after the game.

The terms of the move to Galatasaray

Batrakov moved from Moscow Lokomotiv to Galatasaray in August 2026. The transfer fee was €25 million plus bonuses, and his contract with the Turkish club runs until June 30, 2031. Thus, talk of a possible next step concerns a player whose contract with Galatasaray has only just begun and still runs for almost five years. Earlier, as Gazeta.Ru notes, Batrakov was also praised by a CSKA legend — the publication does not name him.