Fenerbahce defender Gregory van der Wiel has revealed details of a business scam, in which has left him $4.5 million out of pocket.
Not too long after joining the Turkish Super Lig side following the expiration of his Paris Saint-Germain contract in the summer of 2016, the 29-year-old was met with difficulties off the pitch in the shape of a businessman by the name of Ümit Akbulut.
The proposal was a money-making scheme in which van der Wiel is said to have invested $4.5 million to start a number of companies, although he’s yet to be repaid and has revealed how the ordeal has affected his career as well as personal life.
“One month after I arrived in Turkey, I met Ümit Akbulut, a businessman,” Van der Wiel told De Telegraaf, as reported by Goal.
“He offered me a business offer. I trusted him. He wanted to earn money for us in four months.
“I then asked him what happened to our companies. He said: ‘Give me $600,000 and forget the money. Because this is Turkey and you can’t start anything’.
“He scammed me! This has affected my football career and my personal life.”
Matters on the pitch haven’t gone too well for the former Ajax defender either as injuries have reduced him to just 11 league appearances so far this season – the last of which was against Akhisar Belediyespor at the beginning of April.
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