Istanbul: Turkey’s new manager Mircea Lucescu has recalled Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan to the national squad for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Croatia and Ukraine, barely three months after the former captain quit international football.
Turan, 30, Turkey’s standout player of the last decade, had in June been thrown out of a training camp by former coach Fatih Terim following a fracas with a reporter on a plane.
But the subsequent departure of Terim — ironically also in the wake of a fist-fight — opened the way for the return of Turan who declared in August he was ready for a recall.
The news comes with Turan’s future at the Nou Camp in doubt after failing to hold down a first team place at Barcelona. He joined the Spanish giants in 2015 after four successful seasons with Atletico Madrid.
Also given a surprise call-up is veteran former Inter Milan and Newcastle midfielder Emre Belozoglu, 36, whose international career stalled in 2014 when he was given a suspended jail sentence for racial abuse in a domestic game.
Turkey face a nail-biting struggle to qualify for Russia 2018, currently in third place in their qualifying group, two points behind Croatia and Iceland.
They have four more matches, starting with an away clash against Ukraine, who they lead on goal difference, on September 2, and then home to Croatia in Eskisehir on September 5.
Meanwhile, Venezuela chief coach Rafael Dudamel has named three uncapped teenagers in his squad for the qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina.
The 30-man list includes 16-year-old goalkeeper Carlos Olses, 17-year-old forward Samuel Sosa and 19-year-old striker Ronaldo Chacon, the Venezuelan Football Federation said in a statement on Friday.
In addition, Dudamel called up three 20-year-olds: midfielder Yeferson Soteldo, defender Jose Hernandez and midfielder Sergio Cordova, reports Xinhua news agency.
Experienced Torino midfielder Tomas Rincon and West Bromwich Albion striker Salomon Rondon were also called up.
Venezuela will host Colombia on August 31 before an away clash against Argentina five days later.
Venezuela have no chance of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Russia and are currently last in the South American zone standings with six points from 14 matches.
