ANDhe Galatasaray visiting the Camp Nou tonight is not the brilliant Turkish team of a few years ago. He no longer gives war in the Champions League, he is not one of the favorites in the Euro League and he does not even occupy the noble zone in his championship. Galatasaray currently lives in the 12th position of the Turkish Super League classification and they fear in their country that they could be thrashed in Barcelona tonight. Just a 23 year old boy, Kerem Akturkoglu (Izmit, 1998), arouses some interest and hope among the Ottoman fans.
Kerem, unknown to most fans in Spain, is one of the jewels that are beginning to appear in European football. An oasis in this Galatasaray and a player whose name is slipping into the agendas of the sporting directors of the main European clubs. He shies away from this pressure and the star qualification, more out of humility and shyness than out of the conviction that he is the player who should lead the team. “I feel that the game is a showcase, but the important thing is the block”the Turkish player tells MARCA in the hours before the match.
Ask. For Spanish fans, who is Kerem Aktürkoglu? Can he introduce himself?
Answer. Of course! I am a 23-year-old Turkish footballer who plays for Galatasaray and the Turkish National Team. My favorite position is the left winger.
P. They consider you the great star of Turkish football, the hope of Galatasaray against Barcelona.
R. Well… The truth is that I am not in a position to say that I am the best player on our team. There are a lot of very good players in our team. Yes, I can feel the expectations that our fans have of me and that they flatter me, but I don’t consider myself the star and it doesn’t put pressure on me either. Yes, it motivates me to be better every day and to take important steps in my evolution.
Q. Is it true that they call him Harry Potter?
A. Well…
Kerem is called Harry Potter in Turkey. Because of his magic with the ball and because of his physical resemblance, after uploading a photo to Instagram with glasses similar to those of the protagonist of the saga. At first it is hard for him to admit it, he laughs, but he ends up responding and admitting the comparison.
Q. Is it because of his magic, because of his resemblance…?
A. Sometimes I don’t know if my name is Harry or Kerem Potter [risas]. It all started when I bought some new glasses that are similar in shape to the ones Harry Potter wears. After my first Instagram post with the glasses on, people started calling me Kerem Potter and they also called me Kerem Potter after some magical plays I made on the pitch. Magical things in the opinion of the fans, obviously. I was a huge Harry Potter fan and I love the idea of bringing a little magic to the pitch, so I created my own goal celebration by swinging an imaginary magic wand. I think it’s one of my hallmarks.
Q. How do you define yourself as a footballer?
R. I would describe myself as a technically gifted player, who despite having a good definition always looks to find his teammates and let them be the ones who score goals. I don’t really care if I’m scoring or assisting a goal.
Q. Who was your idol when you were young?
R. I have never had an idol as such. Still, I think I can speak for my entire generation and say that I enjoyed watching Messi and Ronaldo. They are the best footballers of the last decade and they influenced many players around the world, including me.
P. How do you face the match against Barcelona?
R. Barcelona is one of the biggest clubs in the world of football and it is a strange feeling to see them play in the Europa League. Barça does not belong to this tournament. Although I also say that this is a very undervalued tournament, because there is a high level. The key will be whether we are able to reach our best level, as in many games during our group stage this Europa League season. If we succeed, I am sure that we will become a difficult rival for Barcelona.
P. It is a good showcase for you…
A. Definitely! As a footballer, you always want to play against the best rivals and show your talent. Ever since the draw, I’ve been looking forward to this game.
Q. Do you like Spain?
R. It is an interesting country for all footballers and that adapts to my qualities.