Happy Sneijder waves goodbye to Inter

21 January 2013 15:16

Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder said Monday he was "very happy" to put his protracted departure from Inter Milan behind him as he left Serie A for Turkish giants Galatasaray on Monday.

Sneijder, who helped Inter to the treble including the Champions League title in 2010, had been frozen out by the Nerazzurri since the start of the season after refusing to agree to a drastic cut in salary.

Galatasaray were one of several big clubs interested in the playmaker's services and their persistence finally paid off when the Dutchman signed on Sunday for a fee believed to be in the region of 7.5 million euros.

Sneijder's contract with the Istanbul giants runs out in June 2016.

"I'm very happy about the way things worked out, the club (Inter) and I both got what we wanted," Sneijder said minutes before boarding a private jet to Turkey at Milan's Linate airport.

Sneijder was a key figure in the treble-winning season under Jose Mourinho in 2010 when they won the Italian title, the Italian Cup as well as their first Champions League trophy since 1965.

But he fell out with the club this season after Inter asked him to accept a reduction in salary and extend his contract by one year to 2016 without a change in total salary.

Inter president Massimo Moratti said he was also happy to put the transfer saga behind him.

"Yes, without a doubt," Moratti told inter.it.

"Galatasaray did everything properly, their president, vice president, they're very good people. I think the player is happy too, otherwise he wouldn't have gone there."

Despite the apparent friction between club and player, Moratti paid tribute to Sneijder's contribution to a successful period in the club's history.

"That's what I said to him... he'll always remain one of the key figures in Inter history. We're proud to have had him here and Galatasaray will be too."

Inter currently sit fourth in Serie A nine points behind champions and leaders Juventus.

Source: AFP