The signing ceremony for the contract extensions of Fenerbahce new signings Levent Mercan, Çalal Söyuncu, Oğuz Aydın, Cenk Tosun, Allan Saint-Maximin, Mert Hakan Yandaş and Ertugrul Çetin took place at the Ulker Stadium of the Fenerbahce Sükrü Salaçol Sports Complex. Tribune
During the signing ceremony, attended by sports director Mario Branco, Oguz Aydın was asked: “Did Galatasaray contact you after you came to Istanbul?” The Portuguese footballer answered the question. Branco said: “Oguz wanted to come to us from the beginning and we liked him. We had a meeting and completed the transfer within 24 hours. I don’t know who called him or which manager called him.” He said:
Sporting director Mario Blanco said:
“Tomorrow will be a historic day for Fenerbahi.”
“First of all, I would like to apologize on behalf of our respected president and management. They are not here right now, they are in Ankara. After the last friendly match we will play, we will officially start the match. Before that, I wanted to introduce our new transfer. Tomorrow is July 19th, a very important day for Fenerbahçe. We are very focused on the match against Lugano. Today we will play in the front line. For the first time before the new season, we have spoken to our own fans.”
“We have to adapt to these rules.”
“I don’t want to comment too much about the new TFF president. Of course, we congratulate the new president. We can talk about the foreign player limit. I’ve been here for three seasons. In the first season we had 14 foreigners,” he said. “Last season it was 14 plus one. This season 12 foreigners are eligible to play. We have to adapt to this rule.”
“85 percent of the transfer is complete.”
“If I was following social media, I would be sitting at home right now and not here. Our fans are passionate but I need to be more rational. I think we have completed 85 percent of the transfers. I understand that the fans do too and if I were them I would want the transfers to be completed right now. 15 “The transfer window runs until September. Of course, I can say that we are happy with the current situation. We are happy to keep most of the players that were in the team last year.”
“I told Maximin I’m going to build a team that will put pressure on us to win.”
“If you work at Fenerbahce, it’s not that difficult to convince him. I told Maximin that I will create a team that will put a lot of pressure on us to win games. I’m happy and proud that he’s here.”
“Opportunity transfer is also possible.”
“Our intention is to bring in the right players in the best possible way. That’s our first goal. We are a big club and we know very well what we want. After we make the transfers we want, we also want to create opportunities. We will transfer them when we find them. “
“We don’t want to lose Ferdi Kadioglu.”
“There is interest in Fenerbahce players in the transfer market. The instructions we have received from the management are to keep the best players in the team. Ferdi is one of the best players in the team and we do not want to lose him. However, although some players will certainly leave the team due to the foreign player rules, the key players are: ‘We don’t want to part with our main players.’
“I don’t know who called Ows.”
“Oguz wanted to come to us from the beginning and we chose him. We completed this transfer within 24 hours in the meeting we had. I don’t know who called him or which manager called him. The important thing is that he chose this. Other issues are not issues I want to get involved in.”
Mert Hakan Yandash: “I feel very lucky”
“After I decided to renew my contract, our conversation lasted a minute. I feel very lucky. I want to achieve our goal of winning the championship together. We are doing everything we can to achieve this. I will continue to contribute to the team both on and off the field.”
Allan Saint-Maximin: “I had no plans to come here until Mario called me”
“I’ll be honest. To be frank, it wasn’t in my plans to come here until Mario called me. After I spoke to him, my thoughts were clear. Mario and Mourinho had prepared everything for me to come here. This transfer would not have been possible without Mario Blanco.”
“The reason I came here is to contribute to Fenerbahce’s path to the championship. This will be the first championship in my career. I know my qualities and what I can do. Football is not only what happens on the field, off the field is also very important, if the team works hard to bring you, if he gave it to you, you have to give it back.”
Cenk Tosun: ‘I don’t see myself as a third forward’
“I would like to thank Mario Blanco, Ali Koç and the Akın brothers for their contribution to this transfer. I had good ties with my foreign friends in the team, so I didn’t have to go through an adaptation process. I’m very happy to be here. In a great community like Fenerbaheçe, no one will doubt that I will give my all on the field.”
“Cenc, I did not accept the offer from Fenerbahce on the terms then, but the current terms made it more suitable for me to accept the offer. After meeting with the coach for an hour, I believed in his project and signed the contract.”
“I don’t see myself as a third striker. Every footballer is very valuable here. I came here to compete. I’m confident in my abilities. In the end, the players who will be beneficial for Fenerbahçe will play. And I want to take part in that competition and score as many goals as possible.”
Çalar Söyuncu: “I didn’t feel like I was employed”
“I have never felt like a loaned footballer here. I want to thank the president, the Akkun brothers and Mario for my transfer. We didn’t talk much about the transfer but it took time at club level. I am very grateful and happy to be here.”
Levent Mercan: “The position I feel most at is left-back”
“I’m very happy here from day one. I didn’t have any problems adapting. All my teammates have supported me from day one. I’m very happy to be part of this great community. I hope we can all have a great season.”
“You don’t always get to work with a world-class coach. Of course, it’s good for me. I think I’ve performed well at left-back for the last two years. It’s good to play in different positions. The position I feel good in is left-back.”
Oguz Aydin: “Mario managed the transfer process very well”
“I’m happy to join such a big community. I’m very grateful to Mario, he managed the transfer process very well. I look forward to meeting the fans as soon as possible.”
Ertugrul Çetin: “It’s a proud day for me”
“Today is a very proud day for me and my family. I thank them for the trust they have placed in me and hopefully, I will work harder from now on to live up to that trust.”
