Brown: ‘Practically done with Milan, but Fenerbahce passion was clear’ | OneFootball

KAA Gent left-back Archie Brown reveals ‘the deal was basically done with AC Milan’ and explains why he decided to go for Fenerbahce instead.

There was chaos and conflicting reports last night about the situation, with suggestions there were even two private jets waiting for him to choose his destination between Milan and Istanbul.

This morning, he chose and flew out to join Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in the Turkish Super Lig.

Brown explains Milan turnaround

“The deal was basically done with AC Milan. I was ready to go,” Brown told transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

“But then, I got a call from the Fenerbahce President overnight. That changed everything. The passion he showed, the vision… it made the decision clear. I knew I had to come to Fener.”

GENT, BELGIUM – FEBRUARY 21: Archie Brown of KAA Gent controls the ball whilst under pressure from Ilay Faingold of Maccabi Haifa FC during the UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between KAA Gent and Maccabi Haifa FC at Ghelamco Arena on February 21, 2024 in Gent, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

This does reflect the overall reporting in Italy, Belgium and Turkey on the situation, which suggested that while Milan had certainly shown an interest, they were always chasing Fenerbahce.

It was not so much the value of the transfer fee – which in both cases was circa €9m – or the personal terms, so much as the determination and passion behind the approach.

He is expected to earn €1.5m per season at Fenerbahce, in a four-year deal with option for a fifth.

This is not the first time that the Rossoneri have missed out on a transfer target because they were too hesitant and took too long over formulating the right offer.

It had been hoped that the appointment of director of sport Igli Tare would speed up the process and prevent a repeat of this pattern, but it would seem he is again not given enough autonomy to make these decisions himself.