ELANO IN ISTANBUL!

Former Manchester City playmaker midfielder Elano from Brazil is surrounded by cheering supporters of Galatasaray at the Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, July 31, 2009. Elano has signed a four-year contract with the Turkish soccer club Galatasaray. (AP Photo)


Manchester City playmaker Elano has joined Galatasaray for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club confirmed on Thursday.

Brazil star Elano was a fans' favourite at Eastlands when he joined the club from Shakhtar Donetsk two years ago, but he decided to move on after falling out of favour with manager Mark Hughes last season.
"Manchester City can confirm that Elano has completed his transfer to Turkish side Galatasaray," a statement on the club's website announced.

He may have struggled to hold down a regular place in the City team this season after Hughes's spending spree on the likes of Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz.

The 28-year-old, who is believed to have cost Galatasaray around eight million pounds, scored 18 goals in 80 appearances for City.

MANCHESTER CITY BOSS HAPPY TO SELL ELANO TO GALATASARAY....

boss Mark Hughes has explained the reason behind allowing Elano to join Galatasary for an undisclosed fee.

"It is a big year for him with the World Cup and he wants to stay in and around the Brazil squad," said the City boss.

"The guarantee of playing week-in, week-out, wasn't there and that was key to his decision to leave.

"It is a good deal for the club and a good deal for him."

IS THIS THE BEST TRANSFER IN THE TURKISH SUPER LEAGUE?....

GALATASARAY SIGNS ELANO!

Manchester City have confirmed that Elano has joined Galatasary.

The Brazilian midfielder decided to move on after falling out of favour with manager Mark Hughes last season.

Following his arrival two seasons ago when Sven-Goran Eriksson was in charge, Elano quickly became a fans' favourite with a string of excellent displays.

However his form tailed off in the second half of his debut campaign and he struggled for consistency under Hughes.

Elano, 28, scored 18 goals in 80 appearances for City and remains a regular member of the Brazil squad.

So, is this the best transfer of the season in the Turkish Super league, so far?

I think so, let me know what you think?

GALATASARAY GETS KAZAK TEAM!

DRAWS MADE FOR UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE..............

Draws were made for the UEFA Europa League's first and second qualifying rounds on Monday.
The draws took place in Swiss city of Nyon.

According to the draws, Turkey's Galatasaray soccer club will play against Kazakhstan's Tobol team on July 16 and 23 in second qualifying round. Galatasaray's first game with Tobol will take place in Kazakhstan.

The UEFA Europa League is the second most important European competition for eligible football clubs, after the UEFA Champions League.

Frank Rijkaard and Rustu Recber with Barca -2003 ,by Ahmet B. Turgut

All the Photos in the silide show belongs to Ahmet B. Turgut

Mustafa Denizli Won't Leave Besiktas !

Besiktas coach Mustafa Denizli has signed a one-year extension to a contract which was due to expire after leading the team for double cup this season


There had been a lot of speculation that Denizli, 59, would step down citing tiredness that he stated, but the coach decided to stay on with Besiktas.

France v Turkey: Preview

Lyon striker Karim Benzema has urged his France team-mates to perform as well as possible in tomorrow's friendly with Turkey to put the nightmare against Nigeria behind them.
Les Bleus slipped to a 1-0 defeat on Tuesday in St Etienne amid continuous jeers from the sparse crowd.

Benzema and his fellow Lyon players were singled out for special attention at the home of their club's bitter rivals but he is confident similar scenes on and off the pitch will not be repeated tomorrow.

"We want to win this match and show that we made a mistake against Nigeria,'' Benzema said.

"And there the fans will be behind us. Turkey have very good supporters, there will be an atmosphere in the stadium.

"We have to win to change things with the fans. There have been a lot of matches where we weren't great, where we didn't have any success.

"We've made approaches to the fans. On the pitch we applaud them, we thank them.

"Now the people are coming to see a football match. We have to put on a show for them, be strong on the pitch, prove something because we need them.''

Benzema admits the jeers were hard for him and his team-mates.

"I just felt as if I was playing a Lyon-St Etienne match,'' added the 21-year-old. "It was disappointing, we represent the national team.

"I didn't understand the supporters. I wasn't expecting whistles like that every time I touched the ball.

"It always annoys you a bit. In a football match you need the supporters to push you, to give you that desire to look for something.

"I understand those who whistle after defeats. To be whistled like that, no. But I have to leave that to one side.''

The supporters have grown more and more disappointed with the France team following a dismal Euro 2008 and a poor start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Les Bleus lie second in Group Seven with 10 points from five games after losing to Austria and being held to a draw by Romania.

Florent Malouda, Cedric Carrasso and Franck Ribery are all doubts but coach Raymond Domenech has an otherwise full squad at his disposal.

France captain Patrick Vieira, who has had an injury-riddled season and before Tuesday's game last featured for Les Bleus in November, could play his second match in four days after declaring himself fit.

"The coach and I agreed we would wait for today's training session,'' he said. "I feel fine, there's no reason not to play.''

Turkey had a good start to their qualifying campaign but back-to-back defeats against Spain has dropped them to third.

However, coach Fatih Terim is confident his team will be in South Africa next summer and views the France match as the best preparation ahead of Turkey's next qualifier at home to Estonia in September.

"It will be a serious game,'' he said. "They were the world and European champions.

"It's important to play with the team well, and not act as individuals who are not part of a team.


Source: Wires
"It will be good experience. Whatever the result the match will be useful.''

Turkish National Team Moves UP In The FIFA May Rankings..

Turkish National Team moved up in the FIFA rankings for May 2009.

Spain still holds the first place....

1. (1) Spain
2. (3) Netherlands
3. (2) Germany
4. (5) Italy
5. (4) Brazil
6. (7) England
7. (6) Argentina
8. (8) Croatia
9. (9) Russia
10. (10) France
11. (11) Portugal
12. (14) Turkey
13. (17) Paraguay
14. (15) United States
15. (12) Czech Republic
16. (18) Switzerland
17 = (13) Greece
17 = (16) Uruguay
19. (22) Ukraine
20. (23) Serbia