ISTANBUL (AP) — World Cup winner N’Golo Kante’s move to Fenerbahce has collapsed, with the Turkish club blaming the Al Etihad.
Fenerbahce said the deal involved a player swap – with Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri expected to join Al-Ittihad – but could not be completed on Monday due to an administrative error at the Saudi Arabian club.
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Fenerbahce said: “Due to the opponent club’s incorrect input of relevant TMS (Transfer Matching System) information, the transfer registration procedure could not be completed during the transfer registration period. The reason has nothing to do with our club.” It added that Fenerbahce “pays great attention to every detail.”
All international transfers must use FIFA TMS.
“We submitted a request for an extension, our club held the necessary discussions with FIFA and took all measures to resolve the situation,” Fenerbahce added. “Despite this, during the ongoing process, the opposing club failed to complete the procedure without providing us with any reasons.”
The 34-year-old Kante, who joined the Etihad in 2023, recently returned to the French team and made his 65th appearance for the French team in the 4-0 win over Ukraine in November.
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Fenerbahce are chasing their first Turkish league title in 12 years. During the transfer window, the team introduced another French international, midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, who hopes to regain a place in the national team before the World Cup.
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