Moratti urges Sneijder to respond to Galatasaray

MILAN/ISTANBUL

Inter Milan's Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder celebrates after scoring during a Serie A soccer match between Pescara and Inter Milan, at the Adriatico stadium in Pescara, Italy. AP Photo/Sandro Perozzi

Inter Milan President Massimo Moratti urged Wesley Sneijder to be “a professional” and respond to Galatasaray’s offer.

“It would be professional from Sneijder give an answer by tonight on the offer from Galatasaray,” Moratti told the Italian press on Monday.

Last week, Galatasaray had an 8 million euro offer accepted by Inter about the purchase of the superstar Dutch midfielder.

Sneijder is set to meet the Inter management later today at the club’s training camp, with the transfer being the only agenda.

Galatasaray deputy chairman Refik Arkan also said that the issue would be solved within a few hours.
 
“The Sneijder issue will not linger anymore,” Arkan told Turkey’s Radyo Sport. “We will get a response until tonight. We don’t have more time to wait.”

Arkan added that he believed there was a “95 percent chance” of Sneiijder accepting Galatasaray.
The Turkish champion has been in talks with the Italian giant and the Dutch player since the first week of the New Year. An end to the saga now looks to be nigh.

After agreeing to terms with Inter, Galatasaray tried to make Sneijder agree a lucrative salary of an initial payment of six million euros, in addition to a 3.2 million euro yearly salary and 25,000 euros per appearance.

However, it is understood that Sneijder is willing to listen to other offers, presumably from top European clubs.

“Wes would want to play for a top team,” Sneijder’s agent, Soren Lerby, told BBC Sport last week in response to rumors that Premier League clubs are also chasing Sneijder. However, there are no concrete offers from Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur or Liverpool, three English clubs that were linked with Sneijder.

Although he was instrumental in Inter’s Champions League victory in 2010, Sneijder has fallen out of favor at the Italian giants since the departure of coach Jose Mourinho and has participated in just five matches this season under coach Andrea Stramaccioni. Despite a disappointing campaign, the Dutchman remains one of the highest-profile midfielders in the game today and might be a game-changer for whichever club he decides to ply his trade to.

Galatasaray hopes to boost its squad with Sneijder on the eve of a crucial Champions League tie against Schalke 04 next month.