Born in Miami
Born in Miami, Florida, Bora Aydinlik is one of the more exciting profiles at Turkish top club Fenerbahçe. This season, the 16-year-old winger has played 14 games (three goals) in the U19 Süper Lig. In an exclusive interview, Transfermarkt Aydinlik speaks about his journey to Fenerbahçe, playing for a Turkish top club, choosing between Turkey and the US, and meeting Mesut Özil.
“I was born in Miami but never lived there,” Aydinlik said to Transfermarkt. “I used to live in Dubai at a young age because my parents worked there but never really in the US. When we left Dubai, we moved to Istanbul, and we have been there ever since.”
Football Talent Scout describes Aydinlik as a strong and powerful forward, similar to Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha. Already six-foot-tall, Aydinlik is also attributed with a strong technique and the ability to take on players one-v-one at a very high speed. Football Talent Scout believes Aydinlik is one of the most talented teenagers playing in Turkey today.
Bora Aydinlik: Playing for Fenerbahçe “dream come true”
For Aydinlik, in turn, playing for Fenerbahçe is a dream come true. “The infrastructure at Fenerbahçe is one of the best and biggest in Turkey,” Aydinlik said when asked about the club’s academy. The 16-year-old trains at the club’s academy every day after school. “I’ll have to miss school and make up the work whenever I miss school time because of games or national team call-ups,” Aydinlik said with a smile.
Bora Aydinlik in action for Fenerbahçe (Image provided by Fenerbahçe)
The national team is another big question. Aydinlik does have US citizenship and is eligible to play for both Turkey and the US men’s national team. “I haven’t made any commitment to either country,” Aydinlik said. “I want to commit to a national team that helps me develop and makes me better on and off the field. So, I still haven’t decided. The US national team has been in contact, though, and we have talked, let’s see what the future holds.”
More immediate is possible first-team action with Fenerbahçe. “Fenerbahçe are the team I have supported since childhood,” Aydinlik said. “It was full of emotions when I was called up to the first team for the UEFA Europa Conference League game against Slavia Praha (3-2). I hoped to get on the pitch and play a few minutes, but it wasn’t meant to be this time.”
Bora Aydinlik: Özil “an icon” – Kartal “been more involved in my development”
Those minutes are only a matter of time, however. “Head coach [Ismail Kartal] has recently been more involved in my development,” Aydinlik said. “He has said many great things about my game and seems to have a plan to get me and other young players more involved in the first team.”
Working with Kartal has been fantastic for young Aydinlik. The young winger, however, has also benefitted from training with the stars in Fenerbahçe’s squad. One name that stands out, despite his recent suspension, is World Cup winner Özil. “He is an icon of the game,” Aydinlik said when asked about the former German national team playmaker. “I have met him and talked to him from time to time. It is a blessing being able to train with him.”
Aydinlik was quick to point out that he does not have a favorite player at Fener or elsewhere. Instead, he is trying to emulate a little bit from everyone he plays with to forge his own path, hopefully towards becoming a regular at Fenerbahçe and beyond.
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