5 things you may not know about Arda Turan

The Blaugrana wrapped up the signing of Arda Turan from Atletico Madrid thereby finalizing their second recruit for the summer. The former Galatasaray man is known widely for adapting to situations.

The signing in itself was a surprising move for Turan since it mean he could miss nearly six months of football. His skills and ability to deliver the killer ball into the striker will be a trait that Barcelona can add to their already expansive array of skills. His aggressive style of play is another that Luis Enrique is possibly looking to add to his Barcelona side.

He can play with style and finesse and also fight depending on the situation. He is often compared to superstar Lionel Messi and he enjoys it. The €34-million man will add a new dimension to the FC Barcelona midfield and is tipped to be a success there.

We take a look at some of the things that you might not now about him:

1) Turan is a Socialist

Arda Turan recently opened his house in Madrid to people across the city’s political spectrum. The venue is used for the purpose of debates and discussions. Turan himself is a socialist and is known to treat everybody in the household in the same manner irrespective of wealth and profession.

He grew up in a working-class area in Istanbul and spent his early years on the streets. The tough times during his childhood and the problems faced by the working class have had an impact on his life. In an interview he had stated, “I have always supported the workers’ rights, the rights of the ordinary people.”

A definitive political stand was inherited by Turan through generations. His father had left leaning ideologies, his grandfather was a supporter of right-wing politics.

2) He once collapsed on the pitch

On 16th November, Turan collapsed during a league clash against Istanbul BB. He was rushed to the hospital and doctors diagnosed him with cardiac arrhythmia - a disease where the heartbeat becomes irregular, too fast or too slow. Exhaustion led to the condition but Turan quickly recovered. In November 2009, the midfielder suffered a bout of swine flu while he was at Galatasaray.

The new Barcelona signing has been familiar with injuries. Be it the knee or the hamstring. In fact, having injured himself in a game against his current employers, he left the field with tears in his eyes.

Despite his physical injuries, he is known to be a fighter. Often considered in the ilk of players with a never say die attitude. A trait that’s not easy to come by but is invaluable for footballers.

3) Man with a golden heart

Arda is known to have a golden heart. He recently participated in a charity match in Egypt to raise funds for orphanages in the Arab world. Last year, he played a charity game at his former home (Izmir Ataturk Stadium) to raise funds for the families of the Soma mine victims.

He is especially known for helping out sick children. In May, 2014, he was appointed the Goodwill Ambassador for the Khojalay Massacre which relates to the killing of atleast 161 ethnic Azerbaijani civilians. His activities include raising awareness and promoting world peace.

He is also a family man. With his first salary, he bought a house for his parents and recently purchased a car for his brother, not just any car, a Porsche.

4) He once wanted to play for Liverpool

Players are often known to voice their love for a particular club. Some have the good fortune of playing for their loved sides while some don’t.

Arda Turan belongs to the latter category. Back at Euro 2008, Andrey Arshavin declared his love for FC Barcelona. Unfortunately, the move never materialized. In 2011, Turan, then playing for Galatasaray also voiced his love for English giants Liverpool. He said: “As I always mention, Liverpool attracts me because of their tradition.

“In Europe, I am a Liverpool supporter, so if I go to play in Europe, I would like to play for them.”

He stated that it was his dream to play for the Reds of Merseyside. However, Liverpool never came calling. Atletico Madrid did and following his exploits with Diego Simeone at the helm that took them to the La Liga title and the Champions League final he has now moved on to Camp Nou.

What seems to have been Liverpool’s loss has surely been Barcelona’s gain.

5) Turan idolises Michael Jordan and Roger Federer

The bearded midfielder is viewed as an icon by many especially in Turkey. But Arda Turan has icons belonging to other sports. Tennis legend Roger Federer and Basketball icon Michael Jordan are athletes he looks up to. In a interview, he had stated, “I always strive to improve, the best sportsmen and woman always strive to be better. That is why Michael Jordan and Federer are my icons.”

Both these legends are known not only for their skills and abilities on the field but also their grace and their human nature. Teammates of Turan have often described him as kind-hearted and nice person who is emotional about the things that he believes in.