DAD’S GOT A TWO-FOOT TOFFEE
CENK TOSUN has revealed that his dad banned him from using his favoured right foot as a kid – so he could develop into a complete striker. The father of Everton’s new £27million singing from Besiktas was a recognised player himself in Germany’s amateur game – but dad Senol wanted to make sure his son made it further than he did in football. Tosun (left) said: “Yes, he stopped me using my right foot and it’s done so well for me because in the box I only have a split-second. To be able to use both feet is a great skill, so he’s got a massive, massive place in my football career.
“He never did it during games, as such, but in training he used to do that.
“And because he played football himself until the age of 40, I still played with my father as a teenager. So he would tell me during those games.
“He would get upset and angry if I was always just using my right foot. He would shout at me to stop using my right and to use my left. I would be eight, nine, maybe 10 years old.”
Now Turkey international Tosun, 26, is aiming fill the boots left by Romelu Lukaku’s £75m move to Manchester United last summer.
Tosun said: “Everyone thinks the Turkish league is very easy and an easy place to play, but I disagree.
“It’s a tough league. Especially not an easy place to play as a striker. Look at the case of Robin van Persie who went from Manchester United to Fenerbahce – he found it quite tough to be a success with them.
“Coming from Turkish football to play in the Premier League is more difficult of course.
“But also there are a lot of foreign players going to Turkey and not doing well.”
Tosun has saluted Wayne Rooney for helping him settle in at Goodison Park – and says it still seems unreal to be playing alongside the former England and Manchester United skipper.
“I think Rooney was 16 or so when he first played for Everton. I remember watching him, and I was only a youngster myself,” he said.
“I couldn’t imagine in my wildest dreams that one day I would be alongside him in the same team – and it is a great honour for me to play with him now.”