Istanbul Basaksehir confirms meetings with Barcelona, Arda Turan
Arda Turan is exploring the possibility of leaving Barcelona.
Istanbul Basaksehir chairman Goksel Gumusdag released a press release Tuesday regarding meetings that took place between the Turkish club and Turan.
Press release of our Chairman Göksel Gümüşdağ |
— ibfk2014En (@ibfk2014En) January 9, 2018
I would like to make an official statement regarding to the news about the meetings between Arda Turan and our club:
We had meetings after the possibility of Arda Turan leaving Barcelona and our club lawyer finally went to Spain. pic.twitter.com/Ke7eRsFqc8
Basaksehir vice-presidents Mustafa Saral, Mesut Altan, and Omer Ayvaci went to Spain to meet with Barcelona, while Gumusdag went there to talk with Turan face to face.
"I wanted to find out how he would feel about playing in Medipol Basaksehir in case there is an agreement between the two clubs," Gumusdag said. "During the meetings with Barcelona, I spent time with Arda and saw that he would be very happy to play for us and that he felt very ready and ambitious.
"Shortly, Arda's desire and ambition together with the club being positive about the possible transfer, I am going back to Turkey with a favourable impression considering our two big sponsors being ready for such a big transfer.
"I understand the excitement of the sports media and I feel the same. Yet, we should respect the corporate structure of Barcelona Football Club and have to wait until the necessary transfer procedures are completed.
"Even though we agree in principle about many points, there are a few more to clarify. Our club is in touch with Barcelona FC representatives. I hope that they will come back with positive news."
Turan, who was a pawn in Barcelona's presidential election of 2015, joined the Blaugrana from Atletico Madrid. The transfer fee was valued at €34 million with a possible €7 million in variables, and the agreement included the option to sell the footballer to Atleti for the fixed fee minus 10 percent of option costs. Due to the Catalan club's transfer ban, the Galatasaray product didn't debut until six months later.
Turan's case is complex, as he's reportedly reluctant to leave Barcelona because he knows his salary is practically unbeatable, but the Blaugrana wants him out, according to Cadana SER's El Larguero.
Turan is yet to make a single appearance for Barcelona in any competition this season.