“I listened to my heart”
Nuremberg’s exceptional talent gives DFB a basket
March 4, 2024, 11:23 a.m
The German Football Association is missing out on another great talent: Can Uzun is choosing Turkey. The 18-year-old could take part in the European Championships in the summer. Advice from Rudi Völler played a role in the offensive player’s decision.
Exceptional talent Can Uzun from 1. FC Nürnberg has turned down the German Football Association (DFB) and will play for the Turkish national team in the future. “I listened to my heart,” said the 18-year-old on Sky. “We have great respect for Can Uzun’s decision,” said DFB managing director Andreas Rettig, “especially because of the good, open and honest exchange that Rudi Völler, Antonio Di Salvo and I recently had with Can and his father. For his future path We wish Can much success.”
The offensive player wants to take this route with Turkey, whose national coach Vincenzo Montella has given him the prospect of participating in the European Championship. “You have to feel the national team – and here my heart and my gut said that Turkey was the right choice for me,” said Uzun: “I will give everything to achieve great things.” He should be nominated for the international matches on March 22nd in Hungary and four days later in Austria. Uzun was born in Regensburg and has been playing for 1. FCN since he was 13. He scored eleven goals in 20 second division games. He has also played for the Turkish U17 and U18 and was nominated for the U21.
DFB sports director Völler, Rettig and U21 coach Di Salvo wanted to win him over to the DFB. Uzun considered this a “huge honor” and spoke of “great gratitude for Germany.” He called Völler “an absolute football legend” who advised him to listen “to my heart”: “There was no pressure, it was honest, open and very respectful.” The DFB still loses the next Turkish-born talent. Uzun’s “very best friend” Kenan Yildiz (Juventus Turin) – also born in Regensburg but trained at FC Bayern – also plays for Turkey. In the international match in November (2:3) he even scored a goal against the DFB team.
With twelve goals this season so far, the teenager is the club’s top scorer; only three footballers have scored more often in the second division this year. After the winter break alone, Uzun scored six goals in six games – he is one of the people responsible for ensuring that Nuremberg is not closer to the relegation zone. Larger clubs, including Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt, have already expressed their interest in him.
In the long term, he and his national team already have the 2032 European Championship in mind, where Turkey is co-hosting alongside Italy. “We are a strong generation with outstanding talents, every tournament up to the 2032 European Championship is an honor and the perfect preparation,” said Uzun. “I will give everything to achieve great things.”