Fatih Terim’s Claims About Kerem Aktürkoğlu

Experienced coach Fatih Terim has given an interview to the Portuguese press regarding Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who recently transferred to Benfica. Terim’s comments about Aktürkoğlu have garnered attention.

Fatih Terim, former coach of Galatasaray, spoke to OJogo about Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who was transferred to Benfica. Terim made some bold statements about Aktürkoğlu, describing him as the type of player every coach would want. “He has the ability to unlock games and is very effective on set pieces. There are very few like him,” Terim said.

When asked if he expected Aktürkoğlu to develop this much since his arrival at Galatasaray, Terim responded, “Kerem is a significant example for many young players aspiring to be footballers in Turkey. He will inspire anyone who dreams of becoming a footballer. He made the leap from the fourth tier of Turkish football to Turkey’s biggest club. Terim recounted the story of how Aktürkoğlu joined Galatasaray, saying, “At the beginning of this story, there was a conversation with a coach colleague of mine. My colleague, who was Kerem’s coach that year, called me and said, ‘I have a very talented player in my team, but he can only become a star with your help.’ I want to thank him once again. We immediately saw and liked Kerem. I asked my assistants to stay in constant contact with him. We brought him to Galatasaray at the end of that season without paying any transfer fee. He then made his debut in the Süper Lig for the first time in his career. I wanted to gradually increase his playing time and said he would become a very important player for both Galatasaray and the Turkish national team in the future, but he needed to be patient and aware of his talents. He has had a special development, and I am very happy for him and very proud of him.”

Responding to the question, “What can Kerem achieve at Benfica?” Terim said, “Kerem is a dedicated player. He constantly creates goal opportunities, as you can easily see from his numbers at Galatasaray. I can already hear Benfica fans cheering for him.”

Terim mentioned that Aktürkoğlu’s transfer to Benfica was not a surprise to him, stating, “Because he is one of the best wingers in Europe. You will see this soon.” Concluding his remarks, Terim highlighted Aktürkoğlu’s leadership qualities, saying, “He would take the initiative in every difficult moment at Galatasaray. Benfica has signed a very special player.”