I know that there have been quite a few Turkish sides buying up some stars (or ex-traitors) from the Premier League, but you simply have to admire the front of Besiktas who have openly admitted that they tried to lure our own half-Turkish star Mesut Ozil from Arsenal.
Despite Ozil costing a record-breaking 42.5m GBP and having three years left on his contract with the Gunners, they sent their top transfer chief to London to speak to Ozil’s agent, according to one of their ex-board members. Speaking to Radyospor, Erol Kaynar was quoted as saying: “Erdal [Torunogullari] met with Mesut Ozil’s representatives last week and made an enquiry.”
Ozil himself has previously said that he would like to play in Turkey one day, but not for Besiktas. He said: “Besiktas have been performing extremely well this season,”
But Mesut has made it clear that he would prefer to play for the club his family supported as he was growing up.
“In the future I want to wear a Fenerbahçe shirt it would be an honour,” Özil was quoted as saying. “Everyone knows I am a Fenerbahçe fan.”
So it is quite an unlikely rumour to be honest, but there is quite a lot of money in this big Turkish clubs so they well may be able to afford it if they could persuade any top stars to move to such a volatile country.
I think Ozil may well play in Turkey one day, but probably not for at least another five years….