Barcelona have issued a statement of reassurance after Arda Turan, Carles Puyol, Deco and Eric Abidal were in Turkey during Friday’s failed military coup.
Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta were also due to fly to Turkey for a charity march organised by their former teammate Samuel Eto’o, now of Super Lig club Antalyaspor, but neither travelled as a night of explosions, fatalities and gunfire ensued.
“Barcelona players Andres Iniesta and Leo Messi, who were to play a friendly match in Turkey, organised by the ex-Blaugrana Samuel Eto’o, did not travel to Turkey and are in Spain,” the club’s official Twitter account tweeted.
“Barcelona player Arda Turan and former players Carles Puyol, Deco and Eric Abidal, as well as the former director Alejandro Echevarria, are in Turkish territory but far from the danger zone and in permanent contact with the club.”
