“New adventure”: Dries Mertens, Kat Kerkhofs and baby Ciro receive an enthusiastic reception in Istanbul | Football

Wednesday Mertens took together with his son Ciro official farewell to Napoli in a video message. The Red Devil played nine years in Naples and he now seems to be moving to Galatasaray. He could earn an annual salary of 4 million euros from the Turks.

Our compatriot flies with his wife Kat Kerkhofs and their child Ciro Romeo to Istanbul to clear out the last dots and commas and to take his medical tests. He also boarded the same private jet as Lucas Torreira, Arsenal midfielder who is also on his way to Galatasaray. Just under 70,000 people are currently following the plane’s trajectory online. Kerkhofs talks on Instagram about “a new adventure”.

Mertens and Torreira received a very warm welcome from Galatasaray fans at Istanbul airport.

Mertens failed to sign with Napoli, despite a proposal of 2.5 million euros per season for the next two years. But at the ‘Partenopei’ Mertens was no longer sure of a basic place, despite his close bond with club and city. With the World Cup in Qatar in mind, Mertens wants to play more, which will undoubtedly be more the case with Galatasaray.

The Turks have to pick themselves up after they only finished thirteenth in the competition last season. The last league title of the top club also dates from the 2018-2019 season. In any case, Mertens will soon receive a warm welcome in Istanbul. When Radamel Falcao arrived in 2019 to complete his transfer to Galatasaray, 25,000 (!) fans were waiting for the Colombian at the airport.

Galatasaray confirms the negotiations with Mertens:

Dries Mertens says goodbye to Napoli with baby Ciro on his lap: “I’m going to keep my house here, so that I can always return to my home”