Wesley Sneijder: Move to Galatasaray Would Be Fitting Next Step for Veteran

It has been a strange journey for Wesley Sneijder in his career so far, but it is time to move onto a new chapter. Playing at Galatasaray would be a good next step.

UPDATE: Sunday, Jan. 20 at 3:55 p.m. ET

According to Football Italia, Wesley Sneijder has agreed to leave Internazionale to join Galatasaray:

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As reported earlier today, Wesley Sneijder has officially agreed a deal to leave Inter and join Galatasaray for €7.5m. 

There had already been suggestions in the Italian media that a decisive meeting was taking place this evening. This was confirmed when Galatasaray released a statement that the move was completed, pending a medical.

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This deal had been in the works for some time but the move is finally official. 

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The former Real Madrid and current Internazionale player has not stepped foot on the pitch since September. It is debated whether a refusal to take a pay cut caused the lack of playing time, but head coach Andrea Stramaccioni maintains it is simply his choice for the betterment of the squad, according to The Guardian. 

However, the midfielder is about to find a new home on one of the top clubs in Turkey. Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti was quoted on the club's website saying that Sneijder is close to a move to Galatasaray:

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I met Sneijder. I wanted to have a chat with him, I thought we needed to. Have we made peace? I don't think there was ever a war in the first place, and certainly not with me personally. Did we chat to see if we were all moving in the same direction? Which one? It's a surprise... Is he close to a move to Galatasaray? Yes, I think so.

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Sneijder has accomplished a lot with his current club, most notably leading the squad to a Champions League title in 2010. Now, it seems like the group has moved on without him.

Instead of watching the tail end of his career from the sideline, he might as well find a new place to utilize his talents.

Of course, Galatasaray is not just an ordinary club. The Turkish squad is near the top of its league table and it reached the Round of 16 in the Champions League this season. With the help of a veteran midfielder, it can continue to win matches and go deep in this prestigious bracket.

On this squad, Sneijder could get plenty of playing time and quickly become a leader for a talented team.

Then again, there are other options for the experienced player. Richard Jolly of ESPN reports that Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is interested in acquiring Sneijder, saying:

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He is a top player. We have seen that at every major tournament he delivers. I’d love nothing better than to see him in a red shirt. If Brendan wants him, we’d love to welcome him. I think he’d be a fantastic player for Liverpool.

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The problem is that this would put him into a tough situation. Despite the club's history, he would have a tough time winning trophies with Liverpool. Then again, the fanbase would cause even more pressure for him to succeed.

After a long career in the international spotlight, Sneijder would be better served going to a smaller club where he can still have success.

Galatasaray is a perfect fit for both sides and it could lead to a great deal of both club and individual success.

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