Mourinho to continue association with African strikers as Fenerbahce are set to complete deal for LALIGA ace
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Jose Mourinho has a special relationship with African strikers || Image credit: Imago

Mourinho to continue association with African strikers as Fenerbahce are set to complete deal for LALIGA ace

Faruq Ibrahim 08:28 - 22.07.2024

Fenerbahce are reportedly close to landing one of LALIGA's top African stars.

Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce are reportedly close to completing a deal for Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri as they seek to strengthen their squad for next season. 

En Nesyri has been linked with a move away from the Andalusian club in multiple transfer windows, with West Ham close to landing him last summer. 

The end of the road is seemingly near now, as Relevo's Matteo Moretto reports that Fenerbahce and Sevilla will fine-tune the details of an agreement in a matter of days and the player will join the Turkish side. 

The Seville-based club are pressed for cash and have to make a sale this summer. En-Nesyri, who seeks a challenge elsewhere, provides a unique opportunity. 

“Youssef En-Nesyri is one step away from a move to Fenerbahçe. The plan is for him to travel to Türkiye tomorrow to sign with Fenerbahçe,” the report stated.

Youssef En-Nesyri of Sevilla || Image credit: Imago
Youssef En-Nesyri of Sevilla || Image credit: Imago

The potential En-Nesyri signing comes after Fenerbahce lost key striker Michy Batshuayi to rivals, Galatasaray. They are now set to strengthen with a player from the African continent; their manager, Mourinho, has a love story with African strikers. 

Mourinho's association with African strikers

The Portugal international famously stated that he owed his success to the presence of African players in his teams

“My success is always based on having an African striker,” he said, per the New Telegraph. “Without an African Striker, I feel like I won’t succeed. My belief about African strikers started with Benni Mccarthy at FC Porto, whereby he scored more than 20 league goals to help me and FC Porto to win the Portuguese League title.”

Mourinho went on to enjoy remarkable success with Drogba at Chelsea, and Samuel Eto'o at Inter Milan, and he insisted on signing Emmanuel Adebayor at Real Madrid despite having Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain. 

En-Nesyri could become the latest African striker to deliver silverware for a Jose Mourinho side.

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