2024-03-04 21:21:13
Can Uzun is one of the greatest talents in German football. Until now it was unclear which country the young star was playing for. According to a report, there is now certainty.
Can Uzun turned down the DFB and opted for the Turkish national team. The TV channel Sky reported this on Monday. The 18-year-old from 1. FC Nürnberg is one of the greatest talents in German football and has already scored twelve goals this season for the Franconian second division team.
“I listened to my heart. Such a decision is not a career decision like changing clubs, but a decision of the heart. You have to feel the national team, and here my heart and my gut said that Turkey was the right choice for me,” said the young striker at Sky.
Because Uzun has both citizenships, the only question that remained open was whether he would play for Germany or Turkey. He played for Turkey at youth level. Both associations campaigned intensively for him. National team director Rudi Völler and DFB managing director Andreas Rettig Uzun also visited him in Nuremberg. Türkiye was awarded the contract.
Rettig: “We have great respect for Can Uzun’s decision to continue playing for the Turkish national teams – especially because of the good, open and honest exchange that Rudi Völler, Antonio Di Salvo and I recently had with Can and his father.”
European Championship plans with Turkey
He also wants to play with Turkey at the European Championships in the summer. National coach Vincenzo Montella has plans to work with the young offensive player, according to Sky.
Uzun himself looked even further into the future: “There is nothing greater than becoming a football legend in your homeland. I will give everything and play proudly for Turkey. The 2032 European Championship is in Turkey and we are a strong generation with outstanding talents, every tournament up to the 2032 European Championship is an honor and the perfect preparation.”
Kenan Yildiz, who also plays for Turkey, also played a special role. “Kenan has been my very best friend since I was a child. We spent so many days on the football field in Regensburg, but never played together in the club. Now we can finally make up for that with the Turkish national team,” said Uzun.