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For a brief moment, it seemed as though both Diego Reyes and Marco Fabian would be playing together with Fenerbahce. After an announcement last Saturday that Reyes had joined the Turkish club, numerous reports stated that Fabian would be next after the midfielder arrived in Istanbul the following day. A place within the roster alongside Reyes appeared imminent. That is, until some unexpected news broke. On Monday morning, Fenerbahce sent out a press release which stated that the team had terminated negotiations with Fabian. Although there were reports about the deal being called off after an alleged failure of a medical test, another story claimed that the player instead had last-minute contractual disputes with the club. Regardless of the truth, this is far from an ideal situation for the 29-year-old. Keeping in mind that his current Eintracht Frankfurt manager, Adi Hutter, sees him as expendable, one crucial question will continue to loom over Fabian's career: What's next? As mentioned earlier, staying with Frankfurt for the final year of his contract is undoubtedly a risk. With Hutter in charge, Fabian would likely sit on the bench as a backup for most of the season. The fact that the Mexican recently lost his No. 10 jersey to newcomer Filip Kostic, also does plenty to foreshadow his diminished role within the German team. The good news is that Fabian can still find a last-minute transfer. Gifted with playmaking abilities and an accurate shot from distance, it wouldn't be much of a surprise if another European squad was willing to take a chance on the attacking midfielder. A quick glance at any of his highlights over the past two years would easily showcase the game-changing moments that he is capable of. All that said, it is also fair if prospective clubs would worry about the status of his health. Throughout 2017, Fabian struggled with serious back problems. "I was in pain on the pitch, was not 100 percent fit," the Mexican international said in an interview late last December. "I received several injections for my back, and took pills. Sometime after the [2017] Confederations Cup, I was not able to carry on." After a surgery in August of last year, the former Chivas player was sidelined for six months before returning to the field for Frankfurt in February of 2018. Due to the severity of this previous injury, there is also reason to believe the rumors that Fabian might have not passed his recent medical exam with Fenerbahce. Whether this is true or not, it has so far proved to be a sad start to the season for the player who will likely be scrambling to find a European contract. In the midst of Fabian's dilemma, let's also not forget about Reyes either. In a new league, city and team, having someone familiar like Fabian in the Fenerbahce roster would have been vital in the process of acclimating. The drama regarding the falling out of his countryman's contract isn't exactly the best first impression of Fenerbache for Reyes either. Nonetheless, even though Fabian won't be beside him, the 26-year-old defender is still left with an intriguing season ahead of him. Despite the fact that the Turkish Super Lig isn't one of the more illustrious competitions abroad, a highly valuable opportunity in the Europa League lies ahead for Reyes. When looking at domestic matches in Turkey, infamous rivalry clashes against Besiktas and Galatasaray will be an unforgettable experience as well. Depending on where Fabian might go, this makes it all the more bittersweet when we consider just how close the two Mexicans were to playing together. As fringe starting options for the national team, it would have also been fascinating to see if the two could have helped each other find a second wind in their playing careers. For better or worse, that will no longer be possible. While one will be adjusting to a new squad and culture, the other will be searching for greener pastures before the transfer deadline.
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