Nihat to seal Real deal
Thursday, January 17, 2002
Article summary
Turkish midfield player Nihat Kahveci has flown to Spain to complete a €5m move to Primera División side Real Sociedad.
Article body
Green light
Real gave the green light to the transfer on Wednesday. The Basque club approved the move after travelling to Turkey to carry out medical tests on the 22-year-old Besiktas JK midfield player, in particular on his troublesome left knee injury, which delayed the transfer last month.
Back with Toshack
The move reunites Nihat with Real coach John Toshack, who coached him during his spell in charge of Besiktas. The Turkish international is expected to sign a four-year deal and joins other recent recruits, striker Darko Kovacevic from S.S. Lazio and goalkeeper Sander Westerveld from Liverpool FC, in helping second-bottom Real fight to avoid relegation.
Fight against relegation
Speaking at Istanbul airport before leaving for Spain, Nihat said: "Real Sociedad are having problems in the Spanish league right now. I hope I will adjust to the team in shortest time so that I can help my new team-mates to climb away from the bottom."
