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Socceroos on the move: Captain Mat Ryan signs with the Dutch outfit after a fierce war of words at his former Danish side as Aziz Behich is rumored to be close to signing with Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray
- Socceroos captain Mat Ryan has confirmed his move to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar
- The 30-year-old had been locked in a bitter dispute with goalkeeper Kamil Grabara.
- Socceroos defender Aziz Behich is rumored to be close to negotiating with Galatasaray
Socceroos captain Mat Ryan has confirmed his move to AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands from Danish side FC Copenhagen as Aziz Behich is reportedly set to join Turkish giants Galatasaray.
Ryan has ended his time in Denmark and is looking forward to a ‘new chapter’ of his career after signing an 18-month contract with Dutch top division team AZ Alkmaar.
Mat Ryan (pictured playing for the Socceroos) has confirmed his move to AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands from Danish FC Copenhagen.
Ryan has ended his time in Denmark and is looking forward to a “new chapter” of his career after signing an 18-month contract with Dutch first division team AZ Alkmaar.
The 30-year-old had been embroiled in a heated dispute with Pole Kamil Grabara throughout the season as they battled to be the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, with Grabara insulting the Australian on several occasions.
After Ryan’s stunning mistake led to Argentina’s second goal in the Socceroos’ 2-1 defeat in the World Cup round of 16 last year, Grabara sarcastically tweeted that it “must have been policy” to keep the goalkeeper Australian out of the Copenhagen team.
Ryan reacted to the insult after the game, saying: ‘I’m not surprised, really. His opinion does not concern me.
The 30-year-old had been embroiled in a heated dispute with Pole Kamil Grabara (pictured) throughout the season as they battled to be the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, with Grabara insulting the Australian on several occasions.
Ryan, who has struggled for consistency over the past two years, believes he will be able to bring his best game to the new club.
“It’s a really good club with a lot of ambition and it’s really exciting,” Ryan told the club’s website.
‘It’s a new chapter, (there is) the excitement of not knowing what is about to unfold.
‘Being ambitious, you dream of reaching the highest of heights and here in AZ, where the circumstances are in the league, in European football and in the national cup, there is a lot to play for.
Ryan, who has struggled for consistency in recent years, believes he will be able to bring his best game to the new club.
“I am confident that I can come here and contribute to the team and the goals that we have.”
The club’s director of football, Max Huiberts, says the experienced Australian glover is what AZ were looking for.
“He has shown on various levels that he is good and he was our top candidate from the start,” Huiberts said.
‘We were looking for someone who will be there immediately when he is fit. That’s him.
Meanwhile, Aziz Behich’s impressive performances in Qatar may have landed him a move to one of Turkey’s biggest clubs.
Meanwhile, Aziz Behich’s impressive performances in Qatar may have led him to sign for one of Turkey’s biggest clubs.
According to several Turkish sources, including journalist Ömer Faruk Özcan, the Socceroos defender is about to move to powerful club Galatasaray.
Behich has played in Turkey before, racking up over 100 games for Bursaspor in addition to stints at Istanbul Basaksehir, Kayserispor and Giresunspor.
The talented left-back currently plays for Scottish Premiership side Dundee United, where he has established himself as a reliable starter.