Mario Gomez will not be playing for Besiktas this season.
The rumor mill had increasingly thought he would return to the club that coaxed him out the slump that diminished his reputation after moving to Fiorentina, but the German forward has taken note of recent political events in Turkey and decided he needs to play elsewhere.
In a message to fans on his Facebook page, Gomez explained his reasoning:
I have to tell you Besiktas fans personally that it is very heavy for me that I will not be playing for this great club in front of you wonderful fans in this unique stadium anymore.