Felipe Melo loaned to Galatasaray

23 July 2011 - 13:30 By Reuters
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Felipe Melo of Juventus in action during the Serie A match between Juventus and Catania at Olimpico Stadium on April 23, 2011 in Turin, Italy
Felipe Melo of Juventus in action during the Serie A match between Juventus and Catania at Olimpico Stadium on April 23, 2011 in Turin, Italy
Image: Valerio Pennicino

Felipe Melo, the man cast as the villain when Brazil were knocked out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals last year, has been loaned from Juventus to Galatasaray, the Serie A club said on Friday.

Juventus said the Turkish club would pay them 1,5 million euros (2,15 million dollars) for a one-year loan with an option to buy the 28-year-old for 13 million euros.     

His departure came one day after Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal, who like Felipe Melo is a tough tackler but is considered more refined than the Brazilian on the ball, confirmed he was joining Juventus.     

Prone to yellow and red cards, Felipe Melo became a regular for Brazil under former coach Dunga but many were worried about his tendency to get sent off.     

Felipe Melo said before last year’s World Cup that he was aware of the danger, yet was still dismissed for stamping on an opponent during the second half of the quarter-final defeat by the Netherlands when he also put through his own goal.     

He has not played for Brazil under Dunga’s successor Mano Menezes. 

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