“It is time that you inform you my tale. All the tale”. With those words, the letter that Arda Guler, a young promise of Turkish football and superstar of Real Madrid, wanted to direct to “all of the children of my stunning united states of america” begins. A direct, intimate message that combines childhood recollections and sports activities aims, and which in some hours has already long gone across the social networks, also at the day of the Pope’s election.
In the textual content, posted in The Players’ Tribune, the footballer strains the years of childhood, whilst he dreamed of a PlayStation and became satisfied with video games with buddies on the street. “When I changed into 12 I simply desired one element: Fifa 17,” he writes. “But his father, making many sacrifices, gave him a console with a abnormal game, with out the ‘Journey’ mode, the one that Arda favored, and with teams with absurd names.”Instead of Real Madrid there has been MD White ‘. I became ashamed, however I performed the identical“But maximum of the time had handed inside the outdoors in Ankara.” Although I actually have best stones as poles, I am satisfied “, proudly claiming what he calls” the Turkish mentality “.
A journey among desires and sacrifices
The guiding thread of the letter is the unconditional love of the circle of relatives. “Dad lived Fenerbahçe. He said we bleed yellow and blue“, He says.” Once, after a derby, he broke a lamp by way of jumping from the couch. Another, he pulled a field for anger and hurt the foot as in a caricature. “But it’s miles whilst the young Arda is noticed by means of his physical schooling teacher that things change.” They stated to my father: ‘This guy have to go to the Gençlerbilorliği Academy’. Dad to start with refused. It changed into greater than an hour away. But ultimately he satisfied himself. And to accompany me, he ended up ultimate our store. It changed into the handiest income we had. ”
When the call of Fenerbahçe arrives at 13 years of age, Arda knows it is a turning point. But there’s the concern: “We could not recognize if I could have made it. Then my father said: ‘If you need to drown, do it within the huge sea’. It changed into Istanbul.” On his birthday, earlier than departure, he gets a symbolic gift: a notebook with the written “Arda 10” on the cover. And a phrase by his sister:“Arda, you have to fill the refrigerator”. The which means? “It changed into a way to tell me: you proudly make the circle of relatives. Take care folks.”
“Only God and the family rely extra than soccer”
The younger footballer then tells the concern of his mom’s health. “They called me in August 2022 “I notion he was approximately to die. The next day I stated to the membership that I wouldn’t play. I didn’t even need to touch a ball.” But Fenerbahçe helps him: “President Ali Koç did the whole lot to present her the fine docs. The operation went properly. E Qualche Settimana Dopo, Dedici Un Goal Con la Scritta: ‘My Mother I Love You very plenty’. Mamma, Ti Amo Tanto. ”
Özil, Raúl, and the primary touch with the dream
Becoming proprietor at Fenerbahçe at simply 15 years old, wearing the range 10 inherited from Mesut Özil, it is no small stuff. “At the beginning I didn’t even dare to talk to him,” he says. “He stated to me, ‘Arda, all proper?’ And I simplest answered: ‘Yes. Well’. Then at some point he invited me to his room and gave me a playstation . He stated to me, ‘Take it’. He became kind. He was like a brother.”
The bounce to Real Madrid become even more unique. Above all the meeting with Ancelotti. “It regarded unreal to me that it is able to manifest so speedy. That summer time, my father and I regularly talked if it become now not too early to leave. It changed into a hard choice, there had been many gives. Then, in the future, an facetime call comes from Carlo Ancelotti.”
“I will never overlook when his wide variety appeared at the display screen and the video changed into still charging … ‘Hello, arda. How are you?’ They can be too vintage … you’ll be there.
The arrival in Spain appears to have pop out of a film. “On the first day, Raúl introduce me. But I didn’t suppose it became clearly him. I stated: ‘This isn’t Raúl’. Only while Modrić and Kroos confirmed, I believed it. Everyone laughed. The Turkish boy who does now not apprehend Raúl …” Then, different sudden information. “I observed that David Alaba and Toni Rüdiger communicate a touch Turkish. They grew up with Turkish pals in Vienna and Berlin. Alaba is even fan of Galatasaray. Courtois played with Arda Turran and knows a few phrases, particularly the swear phrases.”
But cultural integration additionally passes through admire. “In Turkey, we turn to the elderly with respect. Let’s say ‘ABI’, because of this older brother. I could not call Modrić surely ‘Luka’. He might have been my father, you understand? So I instructed him: ‘Hi Luka ABI’. But Alaba and Rüdiger thought that ‘Abi’ was a identify for anybody, even for me. They started to say goodbye pronouncing: ‘properly morning, ABI are officially arda, the youngest older brother of the locker room. ”
There is not any lack of words of gratitude for Ancelotti. “I recognise that during Türkiye many would like to peer me holder in each game. I too. But I realize that I ought to be affected person. When Ancelotti says I can become one of the fine midfielders within the world, VI say that the club has a plan for me“.” Meanwhile, his own family keeps to visit him once a month. And he continually adds: ‘If I were no longer a footballer, we would be in hassle.’ Luckily the fridge is full.”
I want to open the manner to folks that come after me “
Today Arda Guler is a worldwide skills, but does now not forget his challenge. “I don’t need to be the best one. I want there to be others like me. I want every baby in Türkiye to know that it’s far viable, that he must now not give up”. The open letter closes with a memory of the 2023 earthquake, whilst he still played in Türkiye. “There is a video that makes me shiver. It was recorded once I didn’t play a great deal for Fenerbahçe. Maybe you noticed it. Two boys of the rescue teams are with a infant just extracted from the rubble. The baby is lying down, the body covered and the pinnacle outdoor. The sirens are heard. The child has spent nearly 5 days beneath the cement blocks, taking into consideration dying, and he has a message for me. I will by no means overlook.
Arda Güler brother
I want you so much properly
Continue to save Fenerbahçe
Abm, please the train to allow you to play
And it is from here that Guler starts again to talk to his small compatriots: “If you have got a playstation and a dream, take the ball and exit to play. You will feel master of the world.”
