That’s the verdict of informed sources close to the ex-Liverpool midfielder who insist that, barring a major back-flip from a perspective employer, Kewell will be bidding adieu to the Premier League after a 15-year stay in England.
It’s known that Seville and Valencia in La Liga and Serie A giants Juventus have been in the hunt for Harry – but the source would not confirm his final destination, saying only: “He has clubs in all four of Europe’s top leagues interested but you can discount two of them (Germany and England).
“Harry’s always said he would like to one day play in either Spain or Italy – and that time is now fast approaching. It was never his intention to spend his whole career in England and the future is looking good for him.
“Think back to 2003 when Harry joined Liverpool from Leeds. Nobody knew right up until three days before he was unveiled as a Liverpool player that he was going there.
“In fact, it had been a done deal for several months before that. The same may be true again with his next destination. That's the way Harry's management like to do things.''
Injury-battered Kewell has arrived in camp for the Socceroos clash with Ghana on Friday – plus June’s four World Cup qualifiers – keen to showcase his prowess to his new club and prove he is far from yesterday’s man.
“Harry will play the whole game against Ghana, hopefully,” Australian national team coach Pim Verbeek said. “He is fit and well. What he needs is match fitness but he has a good chance to achieve that in the coming weeks.
“I have every confidence he’ll find the right club. I think it’s more a matter of which one he wants to go to, rather than the other way round.
“But, of course, it’s only natural, he will want to impress playing for his country in the next weeks.”
Kewell made just 96 starts for Liverpool in a five-year stay, which petered out earlier this month amid a deafening hail of raspberries from a vengeful English media.
He netted more physio appointments and surgical interventions than he ever did goals while at Anfield, but the former Elland Road favourite was ill-deserving of being hung out to dry by the literary lynch mob.
“A lot of people have said negative things about me - they can say what they want,” was his rejoinder. “I don't have anything to prove to them or anybody else.
“In football everybody is looking for scapegoats. It comes with the territory. I just want to go out and enjoy playing regular football again, wherever that may be.
“I want to show that at 29, I still have plenty left in then tank. I plan to be around playing for at least another four or five years yet. I still feel I have plenty of pace – all the in-house tests at Liverpool proved it – and I want to make up for a lot of lost time.''
Kewell's manager Bernie Mandic is happy to let others play the guessing game on where he will end up, saying: “Harry is looking forward to the next phase of his career. What happened at Liverpool happened.
“He's not in the business of looking backwards, he’s concentrating only on what's ahead.”

June 20, 2008

AUSTRALIA captain Harry Kewell is in talks with Italian powerhouse Roma, as his search for a new club reaches its final stages.

According to reports in the Italian media, which sources in Rome have authenticated, the former Liverpool forward has been in negotiations with Roma for more than a fortnight, with the Serie A giants believed to be weighing up an offer for either Kewell or Manchester United's Louis Saha.

Saha has fallen out of favour at United, after an injury record as bedevilled as Kewell's, but would probably still require a transfer fee whereas Kewell is a free agent.

Contacted on Thursday in Paris, Kewell's manager Bernie Mandic refused to comment on his player's future, beyond saying: "We have a number of high quality options and are continuing our negotiations."

Roma have just signed Liverpool defender John Arne Riise, offering the possibility of re-creating the left-sided combination that Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez long planned to deploy.

July 05, 2008

FORMER Liverpool star Harry Kewell has signed a two-year deal with Turkish champions Galatasaray after five injury-stricken years at Anfield.

The Australian international said he chose Galatasaray after speaking to club officials about their plans for the team, describing the move as a "new chapter".

Kewell was also impressed by Turkey's improving performance in international football, including a semi-final appearance at Euro 2008.

"For me it was a decision not to think about anything except my football," the 29-year-old winger said.

"I want to enjoy my football and I think this is the place where I can come and enjoy my football."

Kewell, who has battled a series of injuries over the past few years, has been available on a free transfer since he was released by Liverpool at the end of his contract.

"You could say it is a new chapter," Kewell said when queried over his move from Anfield to Istanbul.

"I wanted to move on and I think this is the best way to move on," he added.

Kewell, who was welcomed by throngs of supporters on arrival in Istanbul, said he was excited to have joined a club with a passionate fan base.

"I know that the fans are passionate about sport and I love that," he said. "I can't wait to get more of it."

During his time with Leeds, Kewell played against Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup semi-final in 2000, when he was sent off.

Kewell has shown a return to form with the Socceroos, scoring a goal and setting up another in the 3-1 win over Qatar last month that guaranteed them a place in the final round of Asian qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

The move to Galatasaray has ended any possibility of Kewell playing for Australia at the Beijing Olympics.