German youth reject Turkey

A host of German-born Turkish prospects have opted to represent their country of birth, despite overtures from new Turkey coach Abdullah Avci.

According to a report in Bild, German under-17 internationals Emre Can, Koray Gunter, Samed Yesil, Koray Kacinoglu, Robin Yalcin, Kaan Ayhan, Levent Aycycek and Okay Aydin have pledged their future to Germany.

Avci will visit Germany on Friday with a view to convincing the players to commit to playing their international football with Turkey, but Leverkusen forward Yesil said the Turkey coach is wasting his time.

“I want to be a German A-national team player. A meeting with Avci would not change anything,” he said.

Bayern Munich’s Emre Can and Borussia Dortmund’s Koray Gunter are also believed to have no interest playing for Turkey.

Cologne’s Koray Kacinoglu shared their sentiments and said: “I am not going to work with the Turkish national team. I opted for Germany, this will not change.”

Stuttgart midfielder Robin Yalcin also ruled out switching allegiances.

But Schalke’s Kaan Ayhan and Werder Bremen’s Levent Aycicek were more philosophical about their future, and admitted they would consider playing for Turkey if a career with Germany failed to bear fruit.