ANKARA

Cuban-born Melissa Vargas, who recently received Turkish citizenship, said goodbye to Turkish volleyball club Fenerbahce Opet on Thursday as she opted to play for a different league.

Vargas, 21, said she is happy and proud to have played for the Istanbul team as well as being a part of the Fenerbahce family.

"I believe that I have to constantly improve myself to always give the highest contribution to the team I play for," she said in a statement on the team's website. "It is a fact that I will miss Fenerbahce, this big club, this beautiful family very much.”

Vargas said playing in a different league next season will be beneficial for her to gain a different experience and thanked Fenerbahce fans for their support.

Vargas joined Fenerbahce in 2018 and was recently granted Turkish citizenship. She now holds dual citizenship.