Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan could sensationally be about to walk out on Turkey’s Euro 2016 campaign, according to Marca.
The newspaper claims the boos directed at Arda in Turkey’s 3-0 defeat to Spain on Friday and Fatih Terim’s decision to substitute him midway through the second half have “destroyed” him, to the extent that he is considering the idea of ending his international career.
In an act of defiance after the game, the 29-year-old told reporters: “I have nothing to prove. I’ve worn this shirt more than 90 times and I could count the times I’ve played badly on one hand.”
Arda’s problems are the latest in a long line, the former Atletico Madrid star having acted as a spokesman for his international teammates after the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) was unable to agree a deal on bonuses with the squad.
The TFF is also understood to have accused Arda of featuring in too many adverts in his homeland, while it believes his substitution in the 1-0 loss to Croatia on the opening day was related to the breakdown of his relationship with Fatih as opposed to his performance.
Fatih is once more expected to combine his Turkey role with coaching Galatasaray next season, which is another reason for the midfielder possibly wanting out.
The main beneficiary of this outcome would be Barcelona as he would be fully fit for preseason, although one headline in Turkey reads, “Leaving the national team is not an option.”
Arda joined Barca from Atleti last summer in a deal worth up to €41m but did not make his Blaugrana debut until the following January due to a transfer ban.
