Arda Turan is reportedly keen on leaving Barcelona to make a return to Atletico Madrid this summer.
According to a report in Spanish publication MARCA, Arda Turan has offered his services to former club Atletico Madrid to bring an end to his disappointing spell at Barcelona. The Turkish midfielder is willing to miss six months of action to represent Los Rojiblancos.
Turan’s time at Barcelona has been nothing short of a disaster, having made a belated start to his spell with the Catalan club due to the transfer ban that had been imposed on them by FIFA. The player, though, has failed to hold down a regular spot in the starting lineup at Camp Nou.
While he was always expected to be below Neymar and Lionel Messi in the pecking order as far as attack is concerned, he has struggled to play a starring role from midfield as well. As a result, Turan has only managed to start 24 games since making his debut for Barcelona in January, 2016.
And despite Neymar’s departure, it doesn’t look like he is likely to secure regular game time this season, with Denis Suarez and Gerard Deulofeu ahead of him in the pecking order, judging by the indication given by Ernesto Valverde in the pre-season games.
?Tabloid Talk
Marca reports that Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan has offered himself to his former club Atletico Madrid!#Bara pic.twitter.com/iXyCaAJvSE
— Football Transfers (@TransferBibIe) August 8, 2017
Thus, having played a bit-part role since making his way to Camp Nou, Turan is set to leave Barcelona this summer for pastures anew, with several clubs being linked with him heavily. The 30-year-old, though, has his heart set on a return to Atletico Madrid.
Los Rojiblancos are currently serving a transfer ban that has restricted them from registering new players this summer. And despite finding himself in an identical situation as his move to Barcelona in 2015, Turan is willing to sacrifice six months of action to rejoin the club.
The player enjoyed the best years of his career during his four-year spell with Los Rojiblancos. Having been one of the first names on the team sheet, Turan had scored 22 goals in addition to providing 32 assists in 178 games for Atletico.
However, Diego Simeone has no plans of making a move for the Turk. Indeed, El Cholo already has a wealth of options for the wide positions, with Koke, Yannick Carrasco, Nicolas Gaitan and Angel Correa at his disposal, and the Argentine isn’t looking for further reinforcements.
Therefore, in all likelihood, a move away from Spain beckons for Turan, with boyhood club Galatasaray the favourites to sign him. It now remains to be seen if the Turkish club are able to secure the player’s services this summer, or if he manages to remain with Barcelona.
