Arda Turan is now a Barça player after having signed for the next five seasons. The blaugranes have signed the player from Atlético Madrid and therefore is no stranger to La Liga. Furthermore, the midfielder has experience of playing in the Champions League and is a seasoned international with Turkey. Turan made his debut for his national side back in 2006 and ever since he has become a key member of the squad.
The Turk is an attacking midfielder who has many varied talents. He is strong both physically and in terms of character and combines that with a wonderful technique that makes his dangerous in the final third of the field. He is a creator of goals and a scorer of goals and he has been key in Atlético Madrid’s recent successes. He comes to Barça to bring his power and creativity to the midfield.
Key figure at Galatasaray and Atlético
Barça’s new signing is 28 years of age and made his debut with Galatasaray in the season 2004/05. The following season he was loaned out to fellow Turkish club Vestel Manisaspor to gain more experience. His performances led him to return to the Istanbul side to become an important part of their squad. In five seasons at Galatasaray, he played an average of 38 games a season. Despite not being a striker, he scored 43 goals in his time at the Ali Sami Stadium.
His talent did not go unnoticed and in 2011 he signed for Atlético Madrid. At the Vicente Calderón he became a fixture in the side almost immediately and in his four seasons with ‘los colchoneros’ he never played less than 40 games. In the season 2013/14 he recorded his best tally of goals for Diego Simeone’s team, scoring nine goals.
Under the Argentine coach, Turan formed part of one of the most successful Atlético sides in the Club’s history. The Turkish midfielder fitted in perfectly to the ethos of the coach and success was never far away. As an Atlético player Turan won the Europa League in 2012, one Spanish Cup in 2013, the league title in 2014 and the Spanish Super Cup in 2014. In 2013 he won the Turkish sportsman of the year award and in 2008 he was part of the Turkey side that reached the semi-finals of the European Championships played in Austria and Switzerland.