Karius joins Besiktas to overcome CL torment

AFP, ISTANBUL: Goalkeeper Loris Karius on Saturday arrived in Istanbul to join Besiktas on loan from Liverpool, seeking redemption in Turkish football after his nightmare performance helped cost the English side the Champions League (CL) final.

Liverpool announced earlier that Karius, whose first-team place had been taken by Brazilian Alisson Becker, was joining Super Lig contenders Besiktas on a two-year loan deal.

The player was then flown by private jet from England to Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport, where he arrived late in the evening, an AFP photographer said.

“Loris Karius has arrived in Istanbul,” the Turkish club wrote on their official Twitter account, in their first confirmation of their biggest summer signing. The German, 25, who joined Liverpool in May 2016, is expected to undergo a medical followed by a signing ceremony early next week.

“The 25-year-old is set to spend the remainder of 2018/19 and the whole of 2019/20 with the Super Lig outfit, who have started the new campaign with back-to-back league victories,” Liverpool said in a statement on their website.

“Everybody at LFC wishes Loris the best of luck during his loan spell.”

Media reports have indicated that Karius’ loan deal could be converted into a long-term move but this has yet to be confirmed by the club.

Addressing the potential move on Friday, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said Karius had not been “sacked”, adding: “It is only change. That’s football, no problem with that.”

Klopp added on Saturday he had already said goodbye to his fellow German.

“He was really looking forward to it and that’s good for him. I really think Loris is a fantastic goalkeeper and he’s a good age for a ‘keeper,” said Klopp. Karius wept on the pitch after his errors in Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat against Real and the German still looked traumatised as he struggled again during pre-season.

 

Karius joins Besiktas to overcome CL torment

AFP, ISTANBUL: Goalkeeper Loris Karius on Saturday arrived in Istanbul to join Besiktas on loan from Liverpool, seeking redemption in Turkish football after his nightmare performance helped cost the English side the Champions League (CL) final. Liverpool announced earlier that Karius, whose first-team place had been taken by Brazilian Alisson Becker, was joining Super Lig contenders Besiktas on a two-year loan deal. The player was then flown by private jet from England to Istanbuls Ataturk International Airport, where he arrived late in the evening, an AFP photographer said. Loris Karius has arrived in Istanbul, the Turkish club wrote on their official Twitter account, in their first confirmation of their biggest summer signing. The German, 25, who joined Liverpool in May 2016, is expected to undergo a medical followed by a signing ceremony early next week. The 25-year-old is set to spend the remainder of 2018/19 and the whole of 2019/20 with the Super Lig outfit, who have started the new campaign with back-to-back league victories, Liverpool said in a statement on their website. Everybody at LFC wishes Loris the best of luck during his loan spell. Media reports have indicated that Karius loan deal could be converted into a long-term move but this has yet to be confirmed by the club. Addressing the potential move on Friday, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said Karius had not been sacked, adding: It is only change. Thats football, no problem with that. Klopp added on Saturday he had already said goodbye to his fellow German. He was really looking forward to it and thats good for him. I really think Loris is a fantastic goalkeeper and hes a good age for a keeper, said Klopp. Karius wept on the pitch after his errors in Liverpools 3-1 defeat against Real and the German still looked traumatised as he struggled again during pre-season.