Istanbul: Germany international Kevin Grosskreutz still intends to join Galatasaray from Borussia Dortmund, despite the transfer farce which means he can not play in the Turkish Super League until January.
Because the correct paperwork for the 27-year-old’s transfer was not filed before the transfer window closed on Monday, football’s governing body FIFA have refused the move for a reported 1.5 million euros ($1.6m).
Galatasaray’s appeal against FIFA’s decision was turned down on Wednesday and Dortmund have nevertheless agreed to release the midfielder from his contract, which was valid until 2018.
Grosskreutz can now only officially sign for Galatasaray when the next transfer window opens on January 1 and until then he can only play in friendly matches and train with the Turkish giants, which both teams have confirmed.
Despite his ineligibility, Grosskreutz says he will move to Istanbul next week to get used to his new club after six years and 176 league appearances for Dortmund.
A member of the team which lost the 2013 Champions League final to Bayern Munich, Grosskreutz was a passionate Borussia fan before he played for the team in 2009 and has a tattoo of the Dortmund skyline on his right calf.
He thanked the Borussia fans for “six wonderful years” of support and explained that he had to leave Dortmund due to a lack of game time under new coach Thomas Tuchel.
“Everyone knows that I am a footballer through and through and I need to play in matches, and receive trust, like I need the air to breath,” he wrote on his Instagram account.
“FIFA has NOT recognised my eligibility, but nevertheless next week I will embark for Istanbul and get used to it. I’ll only have the chance to prove myself in training.”
Grosskreutz will link up with fellow 2014 World Cup-winner Lukas Podolski at Galatasaray and he is the second member of Dortmund’s 2013 Champions League side to leave the club before the transfer window closed.