After 13 years of playing in Italy, Goran Pandev leaves the Boot to continue his career with Turkish giant Galatasaray.

It was clear that Pandev had to seek a new club after Rafa Benítez left him out of the squad for the Champions League matchup with Athletic Bilbao (Napoli was eventually eliminated). After many speculations linking him to England, Spain and most recently Milan and Hertha Berlin, Pandev today signed a 2 year contract with Galatasaray, says the web site of his football academy – akademijapandev.mk. He is the first Macedonian player to join the famous team from the city of Istanbul.

Pandev and Blerim Džemaili at Istanbul’s airport:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=W4UDnsRHjYw

The 31-year-old Pandev will be reunited with Wesley Sneijder with whom he played together at Inter where they won the famous treble (Coppa Italia, Serie A and UEFA Champions League).  Goran will also become teammates once again with keeper Fernando Muslera (they played together at Lazio). Pandev and Muslera are good friends as they both had tough exits from Lazio following contract disputes. Cesare Prandelli is the manager of Galatasaray and he was the one who pushed club management to sign Pandev. Prandelli obviously knows the Italian league well and is aware of Pandev’s abilities. He will also continue playing with the Macedonia born Swiss international Blerim Džemaili who is also being sold by Napoli to Galatasaray.

With this transfer, Macedonia will have one more player in this year’s edition Champions League. Galatasaray finished 2nd in the Turkish league last season behind fierce rivals Fenerbahçe, but won a direct place to the group stage due to Fenerbahçe’s ban by UEFA because of a corruption scandal. Galatasaray was drawn in Group D together with Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund and Anderlecht. Macedonia’s other Champions League player is Agim Ibraimi with Slovenian side Maribor.

Pandev’s time in Italy began in the summer of 2001 when he joined Inter Primavera after being scouted while playing for Belasica at the Coppa Carnevale di Viareggio youth tournament. He then spent two seasons on loan at Spezia and Ancona before being sold to Lazio where he began to make a name for himself. He then returned to Inter before being shipped to Napoli in the summer of 2011. During his long career in Italy, he won one league title, five Italian Cup trophies, one Italian Super Cup, and also the Champions League and Club World Cup as well.

Goran retired from the national team last autumn as he remains the top goalscorer in NT history with 26 goals in 74 matches.