Taye Taiwo joins Turkish club

Out-of-favour Nigeria defender Taye Taiwo has completed his move to Turkish side Bursaspor from AC Milan.

Taiwo, who played on loan at Ukrainian club Dynamo Kiev last season, passed a medical before finalising his three-year contract on Saturday. The 28-year-old joined Milan from Marseille in the summer of 2011, but struggled for a regular first-team place, spending the second half of that season on loan at Premier League club QPR.

After being frozen out in Italy, the left-back has opted to part ways with the Italian giants, by sealing a permanent move elsewhere.  “The national team is something that is clearly out of my hands, it’s up to the Nigerian coach”

“I’ve joined a club with a massive fan base, something only comparable to the passionate Marseille fans,” Taiwo told BBC Sport.  “The fans gave me an unbelievable welcome. I am happy and excited to have joined Bursaspor.

“I always want to play football and if that opportunity is not available then I need to look elsewhere.”

“I’m very ambitious as a player and this club is going in that direction as well.

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“I hope to win trophies here and hopefully help the club to glory in all the competitions we play in.” Taiwo will be hoping his stint at Dynamo Kiev and a switch to Bursaspor will be enough to earn him an international recall.

He won the last of his 59 caps for Nigeria in a 0-0 Nations Cup qualifying draw to Rwanda in February 2012.

“My immediate target is to settle down here, give my best and achieve a collective success with the club,” Taiwo said. “The national team is something that is clearly out of my hands, it’s up to the Nigerian coach.

“I think I did well in Ukraine and maybe my performance here will influence another opportunity. “But I have to respect the coach’s decision and concentrate on doing well for my club.”