Monday, January 3, 2022 at 3:08 PM• Dominic Mostert

Ferdi Kadioglu wants to play for the national team of Turkey, his club Fenerbahçe announced on Monday afternoon. The playmaker played eighteen games for the Dutch Juniors, but after ‘consultation with his family’ has opted for Turkey. “We wish our 22-year-old player endless success with his career in the shirt of our national team,” writes Fenerbahçe.

Kadioglu has a Turkish father and a Canadian-born Dutch mother. He made the switch from NEC to Fenerbahçe in 2018, but played youth internationals for the Netherlands Under 16, Under 17, Under 18, Under 19 and Under 21. In total, the born Arnhemmer wore the shirt of a representative youth team 52 times. Kadioglu is now too old for the Dutch Juniors, while he does not appear in the plans of national coach Louis van Gaal for the A-team.

The creative, who can be used as a right winger, left winger and attacking midfielder, was a basic player with the Dutch Juniors last year in four of the five matches at the European Under 21 Championship. In March, prior to that tournament, he was asked about his international future. “It is a difficult choice. I was approached by Turkey at the beginning of the season and I spoke with the national coach, among other things,” he said at the time.

“They would like to have me there, but I have asked for time to think. I have not yet decided. I want to think about it carefully, because the choice will determine the rest of my career,” Kadioglu told The Telegraph. Ten months later, he took the plunge. With Turkey, Kadioglu still has the prospect of participating in the World Cup: the country finished second behind the Netherlands in the qualifying group and plays against Portugal in the play-offs. If that match is won, a final against Italy or North Macedonia awaits for a World Cup ticket.