Besiktas move: Batshuayi gets hero’s welcome in Istanbul

 

Michy Batshuayi touched down in Turkey to a hero’s welcome from Besiktas fans waiting for him at Istanbul airport after agreeing a season long loan.

The Chelsea striker has agreed a season-long loan deal in what will be a fifth spell away from his parent club since joining in 2016.

Romelu Lukaku’s huge £98m move from Inter to Chelsea has seen Thomas Tuchel clear the decks with Tammy Abraham off to Roma in a £34m move and Batshuayi leaving too.

Flash bulbs went off and Batshuayi emerged from a throng of people when he arrived in Istanbul on Monday night.

He wore sunglasses and had a Besiktas scarf wrapped around his neck while waving to supporters who had gathered to greet him.

Batshuayi was then whisked away in a car to settle into his new home, where he will remain for the rest of the campaign.

Besiktas also tweeted a welcome message to their new striker with Batshuayi mocked up in a batman mask and the message: ‘We believe in you! Fight for us!’

The 27-year-old Belgian is used to being shipped out on loan having spent time at Borussia Dortmund and Valencia along with two stints at Crystal Palace.

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He scored just twice in 18 appearances for the Eagles last term and his record at Chelsea is 25 goals in 77 games.

Batshuayi looked sharp recently in a 13-0 thrashing of Weymouth in a behind-close-doors friendly, scoring five goals and prompting some fans to joke that Lukaku should be sent back to Inter.

But the powerful forward looks like being the final piece of the jigsaw for the Blues and he could play against Arsenal on Sunday.