Now he has resolved his pay dispute with the club, Wesley Sneijder will remain at Galatasaray for the remainder of the season at least.
The Holland international looked set to leave the Turkish giants during the January transfer window, as a result of not being paid for two months. Perhaps predictably, this led to speculation that Manchester United, coached by former Dutch national boss Louis van Gaal, could make a move for his situation when the window reopens.
This wasn’t the first time the 30-year-old has been linked with the Premier League giants. Even going back to Sir Alex Ferguson’s latter years in charge, the Reds were said to be interested. And last summer, when David Moyes succeeded his Scottish compatriot, it was suggested that the former Real Madrid and Internazionale ace was a target.
However, it now appears as though any chance United may have had of signing Sneijder has vanished. The midfielder, who won his 109th cap for Oranje in their shock Euro 2016 qualifying defeat in Iceland on Monday evening, has now resolved the issue of non-payment with Galatasaray, and his agent claims the player will now stay at the club.
“We have now resolved the issue,” Guido Albers told Sport TV. “Wesley was never thinking of leaving for another club during this period. If a player is not paid for three months he is free to leave the club. Sneijder was not paid for two months, but leaving Galatasaray was never on his mind. Together with his wife Yolanthe, he finds it excellent in Istanbul. For Wesley, it was not about the money, but as his agent I have to protect him.”
As recently as Saturday United were linked with Sneijder, when The Sun claimed they could make a move to sign him in January. In reality, though, van Gaal has no need for another playmaker, and will more than likely look to bolster his back four with a central defender, with Aston Villa’s Ron Vlaar, another member of his World Cup squad, a potential option as the 29-year-old enters the final six months of his contract in the Midlands.
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