Dirk: Thanks for your support
Dirk Kuyt today admitted he has been overwhelmed by the many messages of support he has received from Liverpool fans since announcing his decision to leave Anfield.
The popular Dutch striker this week announced he was embarking on a new career in Turkey with Fenerbahce, bringing to an end his love affair with the Reds.
"After six years, I just had a feeling I needed to change something in my career, a new experience, a new country, new people around me, and that's why I made the decision to leave," he said.
"I had a great time and I had great team-mates. The club was great, the people were great and the people from Liverpool - the text messages, the phone calls, the e-mails, all the tweets I had on my Twitter account - it's unbelievable how much respect they showed me and it's also a bit emotional. They wished me good luck and they said that they will miss me.
"On one hand, it's always very sad when you have to leave a football club after six years. But, on the other hand, you also look to the future and I think Fenerbahce is a great club, with also great supporters and I really look forward to the new experience."
Kuyt also revealed he turned down the chance of a move to the Bundesliga in favour of taking his career to Turkey.
"I spoke with Hamburg, my agent spoke with Hamburg, and I had a feeling about the club.
"But, at the end of the day, the best feeling for me was Fenerbahce.
"For me, it was also really important to play in Europe and to play Champions League."