Agent denies Harry Kewell signs with Turkish club Galatasaray

Enlarge Photo

Fri, Jul 4 04:33 PM

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) _ Harry Kewell's agent has denied the former Liverpool player has signed with Galatasaray, despite claims on the Turkish football club's web site that the Australian international had agreed to a three-year deal. Kewell's agent Bernie Mandic said no decision will be made on the former Liverpool midfielder until Saturday.

"We have not finalized a deal for Harry and it's down to two possibilities," Mandic was reported to have said on the Liverpool team's web site. "People will be notified if and when Harry decides on one of the options which may be around noon on Saturday European time.

We will not make any other comments until then." Kewell, 29, became available on a free transfer after he was cut by Liverpool earlier this year following five injury-troubled seasons at Anfield.

Italian club Roma and English Premier League side Portsmouth have also been linked with Kewell. Australian media also reported Kewell's signing Friday.

The move to Galatasaray would have ended any possibility of Kewell being one of Australia's three overage players at the Beijing Olympics. Fellow Socceroos Archie Thompson, David Carney and Jade North were the three over-23 players in coach Graham Arnold's Olympic squad named Friday.

During his time with Leeds, Kewell played against Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup semifinal in 2000, when he was sent off. Kewell was frequently criticized in the British media for missing so many matches at Liverpool, which he joined in 2003 on a lucrative contract from Leeds.

He has struggled with injuries again this season. Kewell scored a goal and helped set up another in Australia's 3-1 win over Qatar last month that guaranteed Australia a place in the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

RECOMMEND THIS STORY