Steve Appiah sets July return

Appiah won the league in Italy Ghana   captain Stephen Appiah   has spoken emotionally on his return to top flight club football and set a July deadline to secure a new club in Europe before the start of the 2009/10 season.

The 28-year-old has been frustrated by a legal battle with Turkish side Fenerbahce since terminating his contract in June last year.  

Even though Fifa agreed to abrogate his contract with Fenerbahce, the Ghana captain was asked to pay a compensation of 2.3mllion Euros to the Turks for the one-year remaining on his contract.

 
The midfielder fell out with Fenerbahce over a botched knee-injury which rocked his return to full fitness and they have since frustrated his quest to sign for other clubs.

A move to   English Premier League side   Tottenham   Hotspur fell through and was also linked with Russian champions Rubin FC Kazan.  

He claims he's fit to play now and ready to join Ghana's   World Cup   qualifying campaign which bounces back in September.  

"As for the knee it's good-I don't feel any pain but it's different from training and playing matches-maybe people may see he's not fit, yes maybe they're right. I don't have the power to play 90 minutes but it depends on how the games goes," Appiah said in an interview.  

"I finished with this   court case   with Fenerbahce and Fifa decided that I have to pay 2.3   million Euros.”

 
Fenerbahce fans had publicly demonstrated for Appiah to return to the club and president Aziz Yildrim campaign message for re election was centred on bringing the Ghanaian players back to the club.

 
But since Yildrim won the elections three weeks ago, the building magnate has made a U-turn on his promise to the fans of the clubs by approaching Fifa to ask for a heftier compensation from Appiah.

 
  “Fenerbahce have now appealed that the money is not enough Fifa mentioned is not enough and they want more money but we will see,” Appiah said.

"I think I did the right thing because we were talking about career and life. I was dying when I was even playing matches for them.

"They said it was asthma but not knowing that I had blood in my lungs-my lungs are not working no more."

He added:"Maybe I would have been on   the field playing for them and I will fall down and that is it and my life ends like that.  

"So I decided to go to have my therapy, treatment in Italy and they took me to court. I was calling them, was talking to them but they didn't even pick up my call.

"I have some clubs who are interested. We will see maybe at the end of July I will get a club."