Filip Novak quits Fenerbahce! The Turkish club has terminated his contract. Where will the Přerov native head next?

Czech left-back Filip Novak is finally leaving Fenerbahce Istanbul, the club officially confirmed on Wednesday 28 September. The native of Přerov will now try out the top competition in the United Arab Emirates as he heads to Al Jazira.

Novak joined Fenerbahce in August 2020, on a free transfer after ending up at another Turkish club – Trabzonspor. It was in the jersey of this club that Novak had his first taste of Turkey’s top competition, in 2018, when he joined Trabzonspor from Midtjylland.

Now, however, it is clear that the native of Prerov will not continue in Turkey. Fenerbahce has announced the termination of his contract.

“We thank Filip Novak for his service and wish him every success in the future of his career,” Fenerbahce said on its Twitter account.

The 32-year-old left-back has played a total of 51 games for Istanbul across all competitions, starting 38 times in Süper Lig matches. In that time, he has recorded four goals and three assists for Fenerbahce.

However, it cannot be said that Novak had a successful engagement at Fenerbahce. In the new season, he did not make any league starts, whereupon he played for the Turkish vice-champion only in the pre-season and again exclusively as a substitute.

Moreover, according to the system of play that Fenerbahce coach Jorge Jesus professes, it was clear that there was no place left for Novak.

Moreover, after the arrival of not only Michy Batshuayi, Fenerbahce needed to limit the number of foreigners in the squad due to the rules of the Turkish Football Federation (TFF), because of the high salary and the probable underutilization of the Czech player, it was him who pulled the black Peter.

Another Turkish club, Fatih Karagümrük, was interested in Novak. But the problem was money, or rather Novak’s too high salary.

The 28-time Czech national player is leaving for the United Arab Emirates, where he will try his hand at Al Jazira.

Sources: Fenerbahce Istanbul, Transfermarkt