Kuyt to quit Turkey, return to Feyenoord

Dutch national football team ex-Liverpool star Dirk Kuyt on Friday announced he was leaving Istanbul giants Fenerbahce to rejoin his former side Feyenoord of Rotterdam.

Kuyt, a popular player with Fenerbahce for the last three seasons, insisted that the decision to leave Turkey had been taken before the gun attack on the team bus last weekend that shocked Turkish football.

"After nine years of adventures away from home I have decided to return home to play again for Feyenoord," Kuyt said in a statement addressed to "dear Fenerbahce fans" on his Facebook page.

The player said he had loved his time in Turkey and said "there should be no doubt" he would do everything until the end of the season to help Fenerbahce retain the Super Lig in a tight title race.

Kuyt said he "wanted make clear" he had taken the decision to leave before Saturday's attack by a gunman on the official team bus that left the driver injured.

Fenerbahce have refused to play again until the incident is cleared up and the Turkish Super Lig has been suspended for a week.

Kuyt himself was not on the bus at the time, which was taking most of the first team to the airport after a victory in the Black Sea city of Rize.

But Kuyt said: "In football as in life, the most important thing is the health and safety of people."

"This is not just for Fenerbahce but for all football fans in Turkey. Turkey should come together to find a solution," he said.

Two suspects detained over the attack were released on Wednesday and it is unclear if the investigation has made any progress since.

In a separate statement in Dutch, Kuyt said he would be a Feyenoord player again from July 1.

Kuyt left Feyenoord in 2006 to begin a succesful six year stint at Liverpool before joining Fenerbahce in 2012, with his relaxed persona and commitment to charity projects making him a fan favourite.
Source: AFP