Former Premier League star leaves Fenerbahce after Jose Mourinho made digs about his weight in mid-season bust-up

• The star had taken to social media to criticise Mourinho when he was dropped
• Mourinho hit back as the duo continued to exchange a war of words in the media
• His time at the club has now come to an end as he heads back to Saudi Arabia

By LEWIS BROWNING

A former Premier League star has left Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce on the back of jibes about his weight from the Turkish side’s boss.

The forward joined the Turkish giants in the summer in a loan deal from Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, teaming up with former Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United manager Mourinho.

Things started off well, with the star picking up three assists and one goal in his first five league matches for the club, but the situation turned sour quickly when he was left out of a Europa League squad.

Allan Saint-Maximin, formerly of Newcastle in the Premier League, appeared to take aim at Mourinho when he was left out of the Fenerbahce squad for their Europa League second leg clash with Rangers.

The Turkish giants were tasked with overturning a 3-1 deficit against Rangers back in March, eventually losing on penalties. Saint-Maximin, though, was left out the squad, and took to social media to express his frustrations.

Now, though, he and Mourinho have parted ways, with the 28-year-old heading back to Saudi Arabia upon the expiry of his loan deal.

Allan Saint-Maximin has left Fenerbahce after a mid-season fallout with Jose Mourinho

Mourinho had criticised Saint-Maximin’s weight after dropping him from a European squad

Saint-Maximin, who joined the club on loan from Al Ahli last summer, took to social media to criticise Mourinho

‘Can’t thank you enough for all the love and support throughout the year,’ Saint-Maximin posted on social media as he revealed the news. ‘It was a beautiful but difficult experience, with issues outside football but everything is well now thank God.

‘I gave my best on the pitch despite these complications and I am grateful for the continuous love and support you gave me everyday.

‘Fener will always have a special place in my heart, thank you to everyone and wish you the best.’

It was also social media where he expressed his frustrations at being left out of the squad to face Rangers, posting:  ‘It will take more than this to defeat me. When a lie takes the elevator, the truth takes the stairs. It takes longer but it always arrives in the end. If God is with us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31.’

Mourinho, in response, mocked the post and laid bare the reasons for his exclusion, which included the player supposedly being overweight.

‘I didn’t know Saint-Maximin was talented in poetry,’ said Mourinho. ‘I’m not bad in that regard either. When a football player works well, works hard, trains every day, he is fit and can climb the stairs. He doesn’t need an elevator. 

‘However, if a player doesn’t train well, arrives late, is overweight, is not ready to play, he needs an elevator to go up. Because he gets tired quickly on the stairs.’

Remarkably, Saint-Maximin decided to have another bite at his manager after his response and rubbished the claims of his boss. 

‘Lies produce flowers but not fruit,’ he responded. He did, though, go onto play for Mourinho again, with his last match coming in April.

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Former Premier League star leaves Fenerbahce after Jose Mourinho made digs about his weight in mid-season bust-up

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