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Wesley Sneijder joins Nice after release from Galatasaray

Wesley Sneijder has joined Nice

Nice have confirmed the signing of Wesley Sneijder after the Dutch international passed a medical on Monday.

The 33-year had agreed a contract in principle to move to Ligue 1 having been released by Galatasaray and with the deal confirmed on Monday afternoon, the midfielder will be reunited with Mario Balotelli, with whom he won the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010.

Sneijder, who is the most-capped player in his country's history, was with Galatasaray for five seasons, where he scored 45 goals in 174 appearances following a 2013 move from Inter.

Galatasaray's Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder celebrates after winning the UEFA Champions League football match between Galatasaray AS and SL Benfica at t
Image: Wesley Sneijder has joined Nice

"It's now official. OGC Nice's 2017-18 squad now has a third UEFA Champions League winner in it," a statement on the club's website said.

"After Dante and Mario Balotelli, former European champion Wesley Sneijder will also wear the red-and-black shirt this season after passing a medical on Monday."

Sneijder, who trained with his new team-mates on Monday, will wear No 10 after Mickaël Le Bihan agreed to pass on the shirt number to the new signing.

Sneijder will be reunited with Mario Balotelli at Nice
Image: Sneijder will be reunited with Mario Balotelli at Nice

"He also knows which shirt he'll be wearing this season. Mika Le Bihan respectfully agreed to 'give up' the number 10 he had been wearing it to present it to the new arrival in the dressing room," the statement added.

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Galatasaray paid £8.4m for Sneijder after he made over 100 appearances for Inter, who bought him from Real Madrid for £12.6m in 2009. He started his career at Ajax before switching to Real in in 2007.

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