Frei switches to Turkey

[DCHeather]

http://www.turkish-football.com/news_read.php?id=3059

Fulham starlet Kerim Frei has switched national team allegiances from Switzerland to Turkey.

The Switzerland U-19 International arrived in Istanbul, Turkey yesterday and announced his decision to play for the Turkish national team.

Frei told reporters, "My father was born in Bayrampaşa [Istanbul], he migrated to Switzerland due to economic hardships but would always take me to Istanbul for Bayram [Eid] holidays and festivals, Bayrampaşa has always had a special place in my heart.

"I am an ambitious person and aim to do well in England, I can play in any midfield position and on the wings as I can use both feet well.

"My father who is Turkish and my mother who is Moroccan advised me to play for the Turkish national team despite having represented Switzerland at U-19 level" Frei said.

Frei was born in Feldkirch, Austria however, was raised in Switzerland. Despite recently turning 18, the explosive winger featured in 16 Premiership games for the Cottagers last season.

Turkish national team manager Abdulllah Avci spoke to radio station, BEST FM, regarding Frei's decision, "We have been in talks with Frei over the past 6-7 months.

"Frei has decided that he wants to represent the Turkish national team, I will select Frei for the International match against Austria on, 15 August 2012" he said.

Ömer Toprak and Oğuzhan Özyakup recently made similar moves, having represented the German and Dutch national teams at youth level, the highly rated youngsters opted to represent the Turkish national team.

Is he the Swiss Subotic?

[JackCaz]

Hard to believe his age. He has a tremendous upside.

[jumpkutz]

I'm O.K. with this as long as he gets to play. Don't know who fields the stronger side, but I'm willing to wager it's the Turks. This kid had tremendous energy to go along with pretty darn good skills, so I hope we can hold on to him for a good long while, barring injury. He's a plus plus, in my mind for Jol's men.

[SoCalJoe]

Interesting, I never knew his background. Only thing I chuckled at was when he said he could use 'both feet well' (I like his confidence, but I sure hope he knows he has to work on his left foot).

Heather, two names that make me wanna Subotic and my long lost cousin Whitbread. Neither here for different reasons.

[HatterDon]

hey Joe, how about Rossi?

[Clevelandmo]

hey Joe, how about Rossi?

We never had Rossi, but Subotic and Whitbread are a shoulda and coulda had. Actually, I read that a big part of the reason Subotic switched national teams was when he realized how much easier it would be travel wise to play for a european national team.

I would rate Turkey and Switzerland as pretty even, the latter is actually ranked 12 spots higher by FIFA. No good reason for the switch that I can see so perhaps that really is where his heart is.

[AggieMatt]

Whatever gets him more playing time & experience. Joe beat me to his "two foot" line.

[VegasJustin]

Doesn't bother me at all. Hopefully he gets playing time with the full team and continues to learn. We might have our first world class player here and, like Matt said, whatever gets him on the pitch is a good move.

[DCHeather]

http://www.cottagersconfidential.com/20 ... alatasaray?

Reports from Turkey are claiming that Galatasary have had a bid of EU 1.5 million rejected by Fulham and are set to return with a higher bid. They claim that Fulham want at least EU 2.5 million for the "new Turkish Shaqiri" and are continuing negotiations.

Whilst I'm not doubting that Galatasaray may have bid and I'm sure other clubs are interested as well, there's no way in hell we'd sell for that price, if at all. The fact that he recently signed a new long term contract and made such an impact in his 1st season means he has a big future at FFC. If we were to sell, it would take a very large bid for us to be even remotely interested

[DCHeather]

http://www.clubcall.com/fulham/jol-face ... 39895.html?

Fulham are bracing themselves for an improved bid from Galatasaray for starlet Kerim Frei after snubbing an initial £1million offer.

The 18-year-old is thought to be a big part of boss Martin Jol's first-team plans at Craven Cottage after an impressive debut season in which he made 25 appearances for the Londoners.
But Frei, who recently switched national team allegiances from Switzerland to Turkey, where his father hails from, has also alerted Galatasaray by his form last term.
Fulham have rejected the Turkish giants' opening offer, but reports claim they will step up their interest with a fresh £2million bid in the near future.
However, Jol, who handed Frei a new deal extension to keep him with the Cottagers until 2015, with the option of a further year, has no intentions of allowing Frei to leave without a real fight.

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