Turkish sides dig deep in quest for foreign stars

ISTANBUL: Another day in this summer’s transfer window and another foreign star arrives at Istanbul airport to sign for a Turkish top-flight side, met by a raucous reception from hundreds of local fans.

Looking slightly bewildered and not understanding a word of the sometimes bawdy Turkish football chants, the player brandishes a club scarf, smiles politely and is whisked away in a luxury vehicle.

This scene has played out several times this summer as half a dozen foreign stars arrived in Istanbul to begin a new stage in their careers, attracted by massive clubs with a genuine history but, above all, multi-million euro annual wage packages.

In order to attract the very best, the Turkish sides are digging deep into their pockets, straining their own financial positions, economists say.

The big name arrivals this summer have included France’s Mathieu Valbuena (Lyon to Fenerbahce), his international teammate Bafetimbi Gomis (Swansea to Galatasaray) and Portugal’s Euro 2016 winner Pepe (Real Madrid to Besiktas).

They will join a Super Lig already stacked with big names including Robin van Persie at Fenerbahce and Samuel Eto’o at Antalyaspor.

Those arriving are generally in the final stage — but not end — of their careers and playing in Turkey offers the chance of performing for prestigious clubs who have places in European competition.

But no-one can also deny that the salary packages are mouthwateringly attractive.

Pepe, 34, will over the next two years receive a total net wage of €9.5 million (RM47 million), excluding bonuses. Gomis will get €3.35 million per season.

Signing the big foreign players brings prestige and ramps up the clubs’ image.

“They come here for the money but without disappearing off the radar in their country,” said Serdar Dincbayli, a journalist with the Fanatik sports daily.

“For them, Turkey is the last stop before the end.” AFP