Inside the bizarre career of ex-Barcelona star Arda Turan who once strangled a journalist and fired a gun in a hospital
ARDA TURAN retired from the beautiful game last September after an eclectic career that featured spells at Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, as well as 100 caps for his country.
And it’s fair to say that the Turkish star made quite an impression on and off the pitch… often not for the right reasons.
Blessed with incredible talent, Arda enjoyed great success with his various clubs.
But his fiery temper also made a habit of getting him into trouble.
EARLY DAYS
The 36-year-old began his career with Galatasaray, captaining the Turkish giants at just 21.
As pointed out by The Upshot, Arda missed training due to a car crash, before missing out again after “coming down with swine flu”.
His on-field performances gathered plenty of attention, however.
Having already impressed at Euro 2008 and won his first Turkish league title, Arda was off to Spain in 2011, where controversy would follow…
TEMPER TRAP
Turan was part of a sensational Atletico Madrid side under Diego Simeone, helping them to a LaLiga title as well as Copa del Rey and Europa League successes.
With the tricky winger in the team Atleti also reached the Champions League final, only to be agonisingly beaten by rivals Real Madrid.
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Despite Atletico’s success, Arda still lost his rag from time to time.
During a 2015 Copa del Rey clash with Barcelona, Arda somehow avoided a red card after lobbing his boot towards a linesman.
After thinking he’d been fouled only for no whistle to blow, the hothead furiously threw his boot in the assistant ref’s direction.
Even after seeing his bad side up close in that match, Barca decided to fork out £35million for his signature in 2015.
UN-BAR-LIEVABLE
Arda’s Barcelona career got off to a dodgy start… as he couldn’t play for the first six months following the Catalan side’s transfer ban.
Even after finally being registered, it took him a little while to make an impact with his new side.
He managed a decent return of 13 goals in 30 appearances in the 2016-17 campaign, before again letting his temper get the best of him.
While on international duty, Arda got into an altercation with journalist Bilal Mese on the team plane.
According to the Independent, he ranted at Mese for criticising him for the team’s lack of unity – before allegedly grabbing him by the THROAT.
It’s claimed that team-mates had to restrain their furious skipper – who would only play three more times for his country.
Arda would never appear for Barca again after the 2016-17 campaign, spending time on loan at Istanbul Basaksehir before leaving in 2020.
WEDDING HELLS
In March 2018, Arda AGAIN clashed with a journalist… and this time at his own wedding.
He wed stunning partner Aslihan Dogan, with even Turkish president Recep Erdogan in attendance.
A reporter asked Aslihan if the “simple ceremony” had lived up to her expectations.
She then replied by motioning a zip across her lips, and was further quizzed as to whether she’d been banned for speaking.
Arda responded furiously, with NTV reporting that he roared: “Be respectful, or I will crush your head and eyes! You’re talking to my wife.”
WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE
While on loan at Basaksehir, Arda again hit the headlines for an altercation with a linesman.
During the final 30 seconds of a 1-1 draw with Sivasspor, he lost his rag with the assistant ref, shouting in his face before shoving him.
Having gotten away with chucking his boot towards a lino a few years earlier, Arda might have expected to again get off lightly with his violent act.
But this time he had no such luck, instead being slapped with a record 16-match ban by the Professional Football Discipline Committee.
GUN CONTROVERSY
In 2019, Arda was hit with a two year and eight month suspended jail sentence after being found guilty of intentional injury and possession of an unlicensed weapon.
The row began when Arda was alleged to have approached Turkish pop star Berkay’s wife Ozlem Ada Sahin.
He was claimed to have told her: “If I was not married, I wouldn’t miss a girl like you.”
Berkay angrily confronted Arda, who was then said to have broken his nose in the resulting confrontation.
The singer was taken to hospital in an ambulance, with Arda bizarrely following.
He was then found to have brandished a GUN in Berkay’s hospital room – placing it in front of him and saying: “I didn’t know she is your wife. I’m sorry, just kill me.”
After the stricken pop star refused, Arda’s gun went off – terrifying patients at the hospital.
Following the court case, in which Turan was absent, he apologised for the “instant error” in a written statement.
He added that he was “trying to defend himself against slander”.
Turan was also acquitted of sexual harassment in the same case.
RETIREMENT
Following the end of his Barca contract in 2020, Arda penned a two-year deal back at first club Galatasaray, where he would finish his career.
Upon his retirement last September, the former star admitted to having had his “difficulties”.
He said: “It has been an amazing journey for me, for my mother, for my father, for my brother, my wife and my children. I hope it has been for you as well.
“It was difficult, but it was beautiful. I give my dues to everyone who loves me, values me while playing, values me and hates me.”