PETALING JAYA: Argentinian-Italian attacker Fernando Forestieri (pic) has left Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) after savouring much success with the Southern Tigers for two seasons.
The versatile 33-year-old former Watford and Sheffield Wednesday player, who can operate as a winger, striker and playmaker, has scored some beautiful goals for JDT and helped them accomplish two straight quadruples in 2022 and 2023.
“Johor Darul Ta’zim would like to thank Fernando Forestieri for his contributions to the Southern Tigers since joining the club at the start of the 2022 season,” said a statement from the club.
“The forward was part of the squad that won a historic double quadruple in 2022 and 2023. He scored 47 goals and made 21 assists in 69 appearances for JDT.”
Forestieri, who has also featured for the Italy Under-21 team, scored 19 goals and provided seven assists in 21 Super League matches this season.
In total, he played 28 games in all domestic competitions, scoring 22 goals and providing eight assists.
At the Asian stage, he played 11 AFC Champions League matches from 2022 to 2023, scoring one goal and making one assist.
The two-footed Forestieri is one of the more entertaining players in the Super League, thanks to his superb skills and ferocious shots from outside the box. He is also a free-kick specialist.
JDT owner and Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim thanked Forestieri for his services.
“Gracias (thank you in Spanish) Fer. You will forever be part of our history,” he said on social media.
Tunku Ismail also stressed that the team are undergoing changes in order to stabilise their finances.
“The budget of the team has been reduced by 40 per cent. It’s the underdogs era.”
Besides Forestieri, the other players who have left JDT are wingback S. Kunanlan, midfielder Leandro Velasquez, striker Ahmad Hazwan Bakri and centreback Adam Nor Azlin.
Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak has retired from the game and is set to be one of the assistants under new coach Hector Bidoglio.
JDT also stated that wingback Oscar Arribas, striker Syafiq Ahmad, wingers Safawi Rasid and Akhyar Rashid, and goalkeeper Haziq Nadzli will be leaving the club on loan.
Safawi and Akhyar could be moving to Terengganu on loan, while Syafiq has been linked to Kedah.
Haziq could be moving to Perak together with Adam.
