Leeds United transfer target Igor Paixao has said an emotional goodbye to former club Feyenoord with his move away from the side confirmed.
The Whites pushed hard to try and sign the winger this summer, with the club receiving confirmation from Feyenoord over the weekend that their offer of €35 million (£30.3m) would be accepted . However, the player has instead opted to move to French side Marseille, who are able to offer Champions League football.
While his move to the French side is yet to be announced by the club, Feyenoord have confirmed his exit. Following the announcement, Paixao has posted an emotional message on social media.
Taking to Instagram, he has has posted 17 pictures from his time at Feyenoord along with an emotional message. “When I arrived at Feyenoord, I couldn’t have imagined that I would be able to experience everything I’ve experienced,” he wrote.
“My dreams came true wearing this shirt and that I being part of this beautiful story. The feeling is one of gratitude for all the moments we had together.
“I would like to thank everyone who believed in my potential. To the fans, I hope I have represented each one of you on the pitch with assists, skills and goals.
“I am eternally grateful to the club that introduced me to the world and shaped my career as a professional player and human being. I thank you for the years we’ve lived side by side.
“You will always be in my memory. From afar, I’ll always be cheering you on. Thank you very much, Feyenoord.”
Feyenoord themselves have also posted a montage of some of the player’s best moments during his time at the club, along with a caption reading: “Igor Paixao: big game, big player.”
Leeds will now potentially be on the lookout for alternative targets. The club have made an enquiry about Leicester City attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss, who was a bright spark in a difficult season that ended in relegation for the East Midlands side.
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