US Edition 
Darius Vassell receives hero’s welcome at Turkish side Ankaragucu
Around 3,000 fans of Turkish side Ankaragucu turned out in wild and inexplicable celebration to greet Manchester City cast-off Darius Vassell as he arrived in Turkey to discuss a transfer.
Amid chaotic scenes, Vassell was mobbed and surrounded by excitable well wishers of the capital club, draped with flags in the club’s colours and looked visibly shocked as the crowd chanted his name and let off flares.
Many of the supporters were brandishing home made placards bearing slogans of love for the former Aston Villa and England striker.
One declared ‘Hands in the air, Vassell is here!’ whilst another read ‘You are more than a player, we are more than a club – welcome to Ankaragucu.’
The hysterical scenes, which would appear curious to an English audience who have witnessed Vassell’s steady decline in recent seasons to the point where he has barely featured for City in the last 12 months, were stoked by the club’s chairman, Cengiz Topel Yildirim.
“We’ve terminated the pre-negotiations with Darius Vassell,” Yilidirim said on Turkish radio ahead of Vassell’s arrival.
“We aim to secure a big signing as this year is our centenary. He [Vassell] will visit the city and our installations. Then he will make a decision.
“I hope we can include him in our squad.”
Around 50 buses and 250 cars followed Vassell’s progress from the airport to hotel - reminiscent of title winning celebrations rather than the possible signing of a faded English star.
Memories may still be fresh in the minds of the Turkish fans of Vassell scoring the crucial opening goal in a Euro 2004 qualifier for England at the Stadium of Light or his terrific strike against Holland on his debut for the national team.
Regardless, should the deal be completed, Vassell will have great expectations to live up to at his new club.