After moving to Benfica, Akturkoglu scored in the Champions League, the Portuguese Championship and for the national team.
According to İdman.biz with reference to the “Championship”, according to the results of the first two rounds of the Nations League, Kerem Aktürkoglu took second place in the list of top scorers of the tournament. Familiar name? Yes, yes, this is the same Turk that Moscow Spartak hunted for a long time and unsuccessfully during the summer transfer window. As a result, on September 3, the 25-year-old winger left Galatasaray for Benfica. And after changing the team, it breaks out on the football fields of Europe!
UEFA Nations League. League B. Group 4. 3rd round
October 11, 2024, Friday. 22:45
Türkiye – Montenegro
Let us briefly recall the transfer saga of Akturkoglu and Spartak. For the first time, an insider about the Moscow club’s offer for the Turkish national team player appeared in early July. Then, for two months, conflicting information was received. Some sources reported that Kerem does not want to move to Spartak, as he is waiting for offers from clubs in the top 5 leagues of Europe and intends to play in European competitions, others claimed that the winger is ready to go to Russia and is interested in the red-white project. Even agent Akturkoglu managed to give two mutually exclusive comments on this topic within a month – “yes” and “no”. The Turk’s mood probably changed depending on how financial conditions changed during the negotiations.
“Spartak” and “Galatasaray” agreed on a transfer worth € 12-13 million. There was clearly more certainty in the negotiations between the two clubs. But the most impressive insight was given by Gala Haber in August, listing Akturkoglu’s demands for the Moscow club under a personal contract:
the amount of compensation for a club participating in the Champions League is € 20 million.
a bonus of € 150 thousand in case of victory in the Russian Cup;
a bonus of € 350 thousand in case of victory in the RPL;
an additional bonus of € 300 thousand if Akturkoglu scores 10 goals and 10 assists during the season;
bonus of €100 thousand for every 10 assists;
bonus of €100 thousand for every 10 goals scored;
a bonus for each game in which Akturkoglu spends 60 minutes in the amount of € 5 thousand;
bonus of €5 thousand for each full match played;
bonus for each hit in the match application in the amount of € 10 thousand;
salary €4.5 million after taxes.
Spartak, according to the source, accepted some of these conditions. But he refused to satisfy some others. Negotiations continued, but by early September everything had calmed down. After the summer window closed, sports director of the Moscow club Tomas Amaral said, commenting on the failed signing of the Turk, the following: “We were not close to the Akturkoglu transfer. There was interest even before the Euro, but the footballer’s goal is to play in Europe.”
Based on the entire mass of information, we can conclude that Spartak was an alternate airfield for Akturkoglu. The Turk could have ended up in Russia only if a top-5 club or a Champions League participant had not come for him. Unfortunately, for the red and white, he has arrived.
Before the summer window closed, Benfica bought Kerem from Galatasaray for the same €12 million. Akturkoglu signed a five-year contract with the Lisbon club. Turkish media reported that the winger’s salary at Benfica will be €2 million per year, which is significantly lower than the amount he could receive in Russia. The contract stipulates compensation in the amount of € 60 million, and Galatasaray will receive 10% of the future resale of the player.
From Lisbon, Akturkoglu went to the location of the Turkish national team for the first matches of the Nations League. In the away game with Wales (0:0), he came on as a substitute 15 minutes before the end – this was not enough time for the winger to make any effective action. But three days later, having received a place in the starting lineup in a home match with Iceland (3:1), Kerem, inspired by the transfer, scored a hat-trick out of emotion! He made his first career appearance for the Turkish national team, where he had previously scored six goals in six different matches.
Already in the second minute, Akturkoglu opened up in the center of the penalty area, received the ball, turned sharply and skillfully sent it low into the far corner. Before the break, the Icelanders equalized the score. But at the beginning of the second half, Kerem scored a double: he received the ball in front of someone else’s penalty area, quickly improved his position and delivered a superbly executed shot into the far corner. And at the end of the match, after rushing through the center in a counterattack, Akturkoglu realized a penetrating pass from the Turkish star from Real Madrid Arda Guler – he threw the ball over the goalkeeper.
A debut for Benfica was ahead. In the first match with Santa Clara (4:1), the Turkish newcomer turned the game around with his goal when the score was 0:1. And very beautiful! A partner made a throw into the penalty area, and Akturkoglu skillfully hit the flying ball. Neither the defenders nor the goalkeeper clearly expected this.
Then, in the 1st round of the Champions League, Kerem’s goal helped Benfica defeat Crvena Zvezda away (2:1). There he simply completed the episode to the end – he crossed the far post. No creativity was required.
In the next meeting of the Portuguese championship with Boavista (3:0), Akturkoglu gave two assists. Then, in the Primeira Liga match with Gil Vicente (5:1), Kerem scored the winning goal. With the score 1:1, the Turk, whose height is only 173 cm, scored with his head. He opened up 8-9 meters from the goal and with a good nod sent the ball into the net after a cross from the right.
And before the national team break, Akturkoglu became one of the heroes of Benfica’s match with Atlético Madrid in the Champions League. The Eagles sensationally defeated Diego Simeone’s team in Lisbon – 4:0. Kerem scored the first goal, which in this case became the winner. After the interception, he dived into the free zone between two Atlético defenders, received the ball and decided the episode with two touches – he shot between the legs of goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Thus, in five matches for Benfica, Akturkoglu has four goals and two assists. He is in crazy shape ahead of the next Nations League games and will try to take first place in the list of top scorers. Meanwhile, Benfica head coach Bruno Lage is asked at a press conference whether Manchester United really has their eye on Aktürkoglu.
“How, already? – the coach answers as if with irony. “We must understand that Kerem’s main goal is to have a great career at Benfica.” To be a consistent footballer, which is what he shows.”
Spartak strengthened the left flank in the summer window through the transfers of Marquinhos and Ricardo Mangas.
İdman.biz