Wesley Sneijder leaves Galatasaray by mutual consent after four 'amazing years'

Dutch midfielder's exit sparked angry protests overnight by club fans demanding the resignation of chairman Dursan Ozbek.

Wesley Sneijder has left Galatasaray after four years with the Turkish club. Burak Kara / Getty Images
Powered by automated translation

Galatasaray have announced that midfielder Wesley Sneijder will leave the club by mutual agreement after more than four seasons that saw him become a big favourite with fans.

"Our club is parting with Wesley Sneijder," Galatasaray said in a statement late on Friday. "We sincerely wish Wesley Sneijder all the best in his future career."

The news of his departure sparked angry protests overnight in front of club headquarters in the Florya district of Istanbul, with fans calling for the resignation of club chairman Dursun Ozbek, the state-run Anadolu news agency said.

Sneijder, 33, joined Galatasaray in January 2013, scoring 46 goals in 175 appearances for the team.

However with the team in the last two years failing to mount a successful Super Lig challenge and going through a succession of managers, the midfielder had long been rumoured to be unsettled.

Galatasaray said Sneijder's contract had been terminated by mutual agreement and he had waived his salary of €4.5 million (Dh18.95m) he had been due to be paid this year.

The club would receive €20m in compensation were Sneijder to sign for one of their Turkish rivals within the next three years.

There was no immediate indication where Sneijder would go next, although there have been suggestions he could play in the United States.

"I had some amazing years in Istanbul. I really love this club, the city and the fans. Thank you all for everything," Sneijder wrote on Twitter.

The Dutchman had become a favourite in the  Super Lig, scoring spectacular goals that will long live in Galatasaray folklore.

Galatasaray are seeking to regroup after finishing fourth in the Super Lig last season, well behind champions and Istanbul rivals Besiktas.

For the new season, the club have signed French international striker Bafetimbi Gomis and Moroccan international midfielder Younes Belhanda, but manager Igor Tudor still has to convince fans he is the man for the job.

Galatasaray's season started in the worst possible way with the side losing 2-0 to Swedish side Ostersund in the first leg of the Europa League second qualifying round.

* Agence France-Presse