Arda looking forward to Bayer clash

Arda Turan says he is looking forward to Atletico Madrid’s last 16 Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen and meeting up with old friends.

The Turkish international midfielder is back home in Istanbul for the Christmas break and took time out to speak to local reporters.

“I wish Hakan Calhanoglu and Omer Toprak good luck and it’s going to be nice to be able to play against them, but I’m expecting both games to be quite emotional for all of us,” commented Turan, who was asked about the possibility of returning to play in Turkey one day.

“I want to play abroad as much as I can before I eventually go back home,” he replied.

The 27-year-old also admitted he was grateful to all the fans who had voted him into UEFA’s Team of the Year.

“I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me. I feel incredibly proud to know people think I deserve to be in that XI.

“It makes me happy and is also a motivation for me to become a better player and achieve even more success.”

Tags Arda Turan Bayer Leverkusen
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