Can a Return to Boyhood Club Galatasaray Revitalize Arda Turan's Career?

The face mask may have hidden his beard but poking out from behind the white fabric the figure was still unmistakable. Amongst an entourage of officials and holding the rather fetching new kit of Galatasaray was Arda Turan.

The last time Arda was seen in a Galatasaray shirt was 28 July 2011. Following that friendly against Liverpool he packed his bags amidst a €12 million transfer to Atlético Madrid. Fans were disappointed but not surprised, wishing well to a player thoroughly believed to have everything in place to become the greatest Turkish footballer of all time. Since then the world has changed into a very different place, both for him and those watching.

Arda’s return to Galatasaray means his career has travelled full circle back to where he made his professional debut at the age of 17. He was seen as the club’s greatest ever prospect, becoming its youngest ever captain at 21 and bedazzling those who saw him play. Here was a kid from Istanbul’s poor district of Bayrampaşa with the world at his feet. A decade later and he is at a crossroads.

It wasn’t always like this. At Euro 2008, Arda played an enormous part in getting Turkey to the semi-finals. He scored a last-minute winner against Switzerland before starting an improbable comeback over the Czech Republic to ensure progress from the group stage. In the quarter final with Croatia he converted in the shootout to send Turkey to the semi-finals, which was narrowly lost to Germany.