Galatasaray’s Ivory Coast star has been sold to Qatar Al Sadd S.C. for a reported € 8.150.000 after playing just one season with the Turkish giants.
The Ivory Coast star, Keita was not able to give what was promised at Galatasaray.
A statement released on Galatasaray’s official website wrote “Galatasaray professional football club has agreed to transfer our player Abdul Kader Keita for a cost of € 8.150.000 to Qatar Al Sadd S.C.
“The footballer has also agreed to cancel the €200.000 that Galatasaray owes.
“We will like to thank Abdul Kader Keita for his services at Galatasaray and wish for the best in his further career.”
Galatasaray had transferred Keita from France side Lyon in 2009 for a reported €8 million.
The Ivory Coast forward was not able to perform as hoped at Galatasaray and only managed to score five goals in 27 games for the Turkish club which finished the Turkish Super league in third position and had fallen out of the race to championship weeks before the end of the 09-10 season.
The 28-year-old star also played in the Ivory Coast side which crashed out of the World Cup in South Africa in the so called “group of death” consisting of Brazil, Portugal and North Korea.
The Ivory coast star had been greatly criticized by the world media after allegedly diving on the floor after bumping into Brazil star Kaka and going down holding his face while no significant blow had come to his neck or head area.
Kaka was sent off but Ivory Coast still lost the game 3-1.
It is not the first time Keita has played for Al Sadd, as before he was transferred to Lille in 2005, he had played for three seasons from 2002-2005 at the Arab club.
Galatasaray’s next transfer move is also being anticipated with excitement as the Turkish side, now have a budget of €12 million to spend on transfers after the sail of Mehmet Topal in May and now Keita.
It is also widely speculated that Galatasaray, central midfielder, Brazilian Elano was reported to be in the transfer list as Galatasaray wanted to capitalize on the World Cup to put the worth of the 29-year-old higher.
