“Change excluded”
©IMAGO
Former national player Kerem Demirbay has finished with the DFB team. “If the DFB asked me for a World Cup today, I would say with great respect: Guys, I would rather fly on vacation with my family,” said the 31-year-old “Spox” interview. He could “no longer identify” with the DFB team.
Demirbay had played for TSG Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, among others, before moving to Galatasaray in 2023. Although the midfielder was born in Germany and is very grateful to the country, “I am now at home in Turkey and don’t want to leave here. As soon as I set foot on Turkish soil, I feel at home.”
DFB team wrong decision for Demirbay?
Demirbay played two international matches for the DFB in 2017 after deciding against a selection career for Turkey. “Of course I wanted to play for Germany more often. But if I now experience what it’s like to play in a Turkish stadium, how much the fans push you, then with this experience I might have made a different decision,” he concluded. “The emotions I experience here are completely different and special.”
There will probably no longer be a move back to Germany. Demirbay confirmed that Werder Bremen was interested. “That was confirmed to me. But I will definitely not leave Galatasaray. A change is out of the question for me,” explained Demirbay, who would now only make such a decision in consultation with his family. In the current season he was on the pitch 24 times for Galatasaray, but only 733 minutes.
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“Last year I had to arrive with my family first. That took some time. Since then, I have developed into a leading player here. I am now fully respected and a personality in the club. Although I’m playing less at the moment, I don’t see myself as a supplementary player,” said Demirbay. “I believe in myself and know that I will play more here again. Only the best are here – and because I’m one of the best, I’m here.”