Fernando Forestieri, an Italian striker has bid farewell to Johor Darul Ta’Zim, a club in Liga Super Malaysia after decided not extended contract.
Forestieri, who became a key figure during his tenure, scored an impressive 50 goals in 72 appearances for the Southern Tigers squad for all 3 years.
Announcing his departure via Instagram, Forestieri expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the club and its supporters:
“It’s hard for me to say goodbye, but this is football,” he wrote. “I want to say a big thank you for these amazing years at JDT.”
In his message, Forestieri also thanked the people behind the scenes:
“To Kiko, Martin, Alistair, the medical staff, technical staff, analysts, team managers, marketing staff, nutritionists, kit keeper, gardener, cleaners, cooks, security, and everyone behind the scenes, especially my teammates, I will always cherish the memories with you all!”
He concluded with a special message for the fans and club owner:
“Thank you to the fans for always supporting me! I will forever be grateful to my boss and his beautiful family who always take care of me and my family! Gracias Jefe—part of my heart will always be in Johor.”
Forestieri spent nearly three seasons with JDT, where he claimed his first career trophy and contributed significantly to the club’s success. However, a series of injuries affected his playing time, sidelining him for much of the 2024 season. His final appearance for JDT came in June against Kelantan Darul Naim, where he capped his performance with a goal in the 44th minute at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.
This season, Forestieri managed only four starts, including a pre-season match against Lion City Sailors.
Credit Photo : Emmer Farid/SNE Images
