
Çelik bids farewell to Roma after contract dispute
Zeki Çelik has departed AS Roma following a contract renewal breakdown, announcing his exit on social media. The Turkish defender, who joined Roma under José Mourinho, shared a lengthy farewell message thanking the club, city, and supporters. Çelik reflected on his time in the Giallorossi shirt, saying: "Cari Romanisti, today, in saying goodbye to this great family, I feel emotions difficult to describe. Wearing Roma's shirt, fighting for these colours and taking the field in front of you has been an immense honour and great pride for me. Every day spent at this club helped me grow, both as a player and as a person. We lived unforgettable moments together. I will always carry with me the pride of having contributed to bringing Roma back to the UEFA Champions League." Çelik extended special thanks to former managers José Mourinho, Daniele De Rossi, Ivan Jurić, and Claudio Ranieri for their support and belief in him. He also acknowledged current head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, noting that despite their brief time together, the trust, honesty and respect Gasperini showed him had been deeply meaningful. "Now the moment has arrived to begin a new chapter of my career," Çelik stated. "But I will always carry this club, this city and all of you in my heart. I wish Roma to continue achieving all the success it deserves. Thank you with all my heart for everything."


