Arda Turan will finally get his chance to play for Barcelona against Espanyol on Wednesday night, some six months after signing for the club from Atletico Madrid.
Turan put pen to paper on a five-year-deal in July, knowing that FIFA’s transfer ban would prevent him from lining up for the Nou Camp club until January.
– Premier League: January transfer window watch
– Serie A: January transfer window watch
– Bundesliga: January transfer window watch
– Ligue 1: January transfer window watch
– La Liga: January transfer window watch
Could you compare Turkish football to Spanish football? What are the basic differences and similarities?
Spanish football is mostly based on playing. The stadiums and fields are the forefront: the field is nice and the ball is nice. Although there are the best players in the world playing in our league, it has a system. You see Neymar and Messi, they remain in their positions. Teams act to beautify football and play their own fields. I think this is all about the system. And players are very advantageous as they know where to position themselves thanks to the education of playing football for a long time. We teach these things quite later, during a large number of training sessions.
How are you feeling about playing for Barcelona for the first time?
I am excited. But I would like to enjoy it rather than being excited. I have the chance of playing with the best team in the world, with the most special players, and maybe with the best player in history. I hope I will enjoy this. I hope I will have great success. I hope I will be one of the most precious players in this team.
How important is to dream?
I am living a life I never could have dreamed of. I am living a dream where I kind of loose my sense. I was always a good student. I knew my responsibilities. I was respectful to my family, mother and father. I always worked and believed.
People must always dream. Because I am living through a thing I cannot imagine. The things I imagined sometimes were too big for me. But it looks like there are things beyond what you can imagine. Because everyone that does these things, play on these fields, win the European Cup, are people like you and me. That’s why, if they can do it, I can do it as well. If we can focus on education, training and discipline, believe in it and want it, why should not we do it?
Matchday. Finally. Your support has made me stronger during this period. Thank you for being there. Love you all. Always!
— Arda Turan (@ArdaTuran) January 6, 2016
How has it been with your teammates at Barcelona?
My friends treat me well because I came to Barcelona after gaining respect for my accomplishments with Atletico Madrid and Galatasaray. They treat me like I am one of them. It is really nice. They made me one of them, everything is going pretty well so far.
How do you feel about representing Turkey?
I show them the normal attitude of Turkish people. And they are really well-intentioned, warm people and they do everything to fall into line with me and to make me feel like one of them. We sometimes do nice greetings and nice gestures. It is very nice.
How did your teammates react to your success with Turkey?
They were so happy because we made a miracle happen. They welcomed me very well when I first came here. It was very special for me.
