Arda Turan delights at move to Barcelona

Andy West 06:15 11/07/2015
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  • Proud: Arda Turan.

    Arda Turan is itching to line up alongside one Barcelona legend while insisting that he has not joined the Catalan club to replace another.

    After four seasons with Atletico Madrid, where he played a key role in the 2013/4 La Liga title triumph, Turan has switched to Barca on a five-year contract after the clubs agreed an initial fee of €34 million.

    He was officially presented at the Nou Camp yesterday and revealed that the move will give him a chance to get up close and personal with his hero.

    “[Andres] Iniesta is my idol,” he said. “I can’t wait to play alongside him. He sent me a text message to say welcome, which was a nice touch.”

    But Turan rejected the suggestion that he will be directly competing for a place in the team with Iniesta, claiming that Barca’s attacking philosophy gives manager Luis Enrique plenty of options.

    “Why can’t the five of us play together?” he added. “Why can’t Messi, Suarez and Neymar play together up front, and me and Iniesta in midfield? You will see that here.”

    On the face of it, Turan’s arrival at the Nou Camp compensates for the loss of another midfielder, former club captain Xavi who has departed to finish his career with Al-Sadd in Qatar after amassing a record-breaking trophy haul.

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    Although they are both highly accomplished technical performers, Turan plays in a more advanced position than Xavi and he has no intention to directly replace the Blaugrana legend.

    “Nobody can replace Xavi, he is an unrepeatable figure – not just at Barcelona but as an icon of world football,” he said. “I’ve come here to give the best of myself and help the team.

    “I’m not here to be Xavi’s substitute, no one is capable of doing that. I may play better or worse but I will always give the best I can.”

    The only negative of Turan’s move to Barca – a team he claimed he has wanted to represent since boyhood – is the fact that he will not be able to make his debut until January as a result of the club’s ongoing transfer ban from FIFA, which means he can officially join but not yet be registered to appear in any competitive fixtures.

    It has even been suggested that Turan could maintain his fitness by returning to his former team Galatasaray on a half-season loan during his period of ineligibility for Barca, but he was keen to pour cold water on that rumour.

    “I haven’t thought about that,” he asserted. “All that concerns me right now is adapting to Barca’s style of play as quickly as possible.

    “I can’t wait to start playing. As soon as I signed the contract and pulled on the Barca shirt, I started to feel a bit nervous and just wanted to start playing. I hope these six months pass quickly.

    “Everyone who knows me, knows that ever since I was a boy I always aspired to play for Barcelona. This is the best club in the world and I am delighted to be here. It’s a dream for me. I had many offers but once I got Barca’s, I put the others to the side.”

    Turan also expressed his gratitude to his new manager Enrique, who specifically pinpointed the Turk as his number one transfer priority this summer.

    “Luis Enrique wanted me here and I have to thank him for what he’s done for me,” said Turan. “It was my lifelong dream and I’ll do everything possible to thank the coach for this opportunity.”

    Turan made it clear that Atletico would have a special place in his heart. He joined them in 2011 from Galatasaray and won a Europa League title, a Copa del Rey and La Liga with the club.

    “I want to thank Atletico because if I’m here is also partly down to their work,” he said. 

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