On Wednesday VfB Stuttgart reported the transfer of Ömer Faruk Beyaz perfect. The 17-year-old exceptional talent comes free of charge from Fenerbahce and receives a four-year contract with the Swabians. In conversation with Football– Editor-in-chief Erdem Ufak, the VfB newcomer spoke about his reasons for moving to Stuttgart, his upcoming move from Istanbul to Germany and his long-term career plans.
Hello Ömer. Thank you for taking the time to talk to GazeteFutbol. To start with, I would like to ask how the move to VfB Stuttgart came about and what criteria did you use to choose your new club?
Beyaz: “We have spoken to several clubs since January. The biggest factors for a move to Stuttgart were that VfB has the youngest team in the Bundesliga and Sven Mislintat. He had a very large part in my decision in favor of VfB, as he attaches great importance to young players. I think in Stuttgart I can prove myself, develop well and advance my career. Therefore I am very confident and satisfied with my decision. “
Ozan Kabak has also played for VfB. Was there any contact with him?
Beyaz: “We only wrote to each other once. He congratulated me and offered his help and support. “
What do you think about the Bundesliga?
Beyaz: “The Bundesliga is one of the best leagues in the world. Regardless of my move to Stuttgart and VfB, I’ve been following the Bundesliga for a long time. So I know my way around more or less well. I can even go so far as to say that I like the Bundesliga best compared to the other European leagues. “
Have you already been in contact with coach Pellegrino Matarazzo or with VfB players? What do you know about the fan culture in Stuttgart?
Beyaz: “I know that the VfB fans support their team on good and bad days. Stuttgart had an average attendance of over 50,000 in the second division. That is important and also speaks for the fan culture there. So far I’ve only spoken to Sven Mislintat. But of course I’m really looking forward to getting to know the coaching team and the team. “
Foto: M-SOCCERMANAGEMENT
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The switch from Istanbul to Stuttgart will certainly be huge. You come from a metropolis of millions in a comparatively small city. How are you preparing for this change?
Beyaz: “I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting Stuttgart so far. But people in my immediate vicinity describe Stuttgart as a modern industrial city with very beautiful corners and a great inner city. Compared to Istanbul, I can say that it is not inconvenient for me to continue my career in a quieter and smaller city. Because that way I can concentrate much better on my job and my career. After all, I’m still a very young player. As for the language: I started taking German lessons around 2-3 weeks ago. I’m currently trying to learn the basics that should get me through everyday life. First and foremost, it should be about being able to communicate. In addition, I am still fully in training and work on myself every day. “
What are your long-term career plans?
Beyaz: “First of all, I want to prove myself in Stuttgart, be successful and make my contribution to success. The Spanish La Liga or the English Premier League are of course always attractive. Currently, however, my focus is only on VfB and the Bundesliga. My main goal is to win the Ballon d’Or one day. I set myself this goal from the start and I am working towards it. For this I have to help the team and the team help me. Work well together and appear as a team, the rest will hopefully come by itself. “
Who are your footballing role models?
Beyaz: “When I started playing football, I compared my style of play to Lionel Messi. But over time it became important to me to develop and advance my own playing style. In general, of course, I like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo very much. I don’t have a particular role model. Every good player has his or her specific strengths. So I try to learn something from everyone. In Turkey I can mention Alex de Souza at this point. He was one of the best players I’ve ever seen play. With his mentality, his experience and his understanding of the game, Emre Belözoglu is also a very, very great player for me. He has proven himself always and everywhere and always shown character. He gave me a lot to take with me personally, and I was able to learn a lot from him. With him I saw what passion means and that attacking players can and must also work defensively. “
Ömer, we thank you very much and wish you every success in your future career! Have fun in the Bundesliga and at VfB Stuttgart!
Das Interview with Ömer Faruk Beyaz Führte Newspaper Football-Chefredakteur Erdem Ufak
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