Now Besiktas striker Mario Gomez has thanked Fiorentina fans in an emotional goodbye letter, while explaining his decision to leave Italy.
The 30-year-old German International suffered a torrid start to life on the peninsula back in 2013 after tearing a muscle just three games into his debut season, and soon after found difficultly in returning to his former ways, with even more injury setbacks.
After two seasons Fiorentina’s patience eventually ran out, with the club deciding to loan him to Turkish side Besiktas at the end of last season, a move which Gomez describes as extremely difficult.
Despite such a series of unfortunate events, the striker built a good rapport with the people of Florence, for whom he wrote an open letter which was later posted on Fiorentina’s official site.
“Dear Fiorentina fans. Now with a bit of distance between us I can finally write to you,” the letter began.
“I have thought about you a lot and about what to tell you. And in the end I’m going to speak from my heart. Many many thanks for the mega support you have shown during the past two years.
“Things didn’t go as we had desired and even as we had deserved. Unfortunately that’s what happened. And this is the reason why I have decided to leave. It was a tremendously difficult decision on my behalf to make! When I said goodbye to my now ex-team mates on the Tuesday that I left, and then to drive out of the city, it was an extremely sad moment for me.
“It was the most emotional and the hardest time in my career – because I will take the city of Florence and especially all of you fans in my heart with me forever. All the devotion and it is sensational that you have always wanted the best for me, throughout these two years, even in the hardest moments such as my injury. It’s striking!
“You always supported me, at the stadium, in the streets, in the restaurants – a mad amount of support! You leave me without words but at the same time you have made me ever so happy.
“Unfortunately it didn’t go well for us, however I never want to forget about this stage in my life. Maybe not as a footballer, but certainly as a man!
“It is hard to find the right words, but I thank you all for all of your love!!! I hope that you win the Scudetto! And we will see each other soon, this is for sure! Florence has now become my home!
“Forza Viola! Forever!
“Mario Gomez.”
