Serkan opts for Turkey over Germany
Thursday, January 3, 2008
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Galatasaray AS winger Serkan Çalık has pledged his allegiance to the Turkish national team despite having been capped five times by Germany at Under-21 level.
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Galatasaray AS winger Serkan Çalık has pledged his allegiance to the Turkish national team despite having played five times for Germany at Under-21 level.
No hesitation
The 21-year-old has caught the eye for Galatasaray following his summer move from German side SC Rot-Weiss Essen and hopes to continue turning on the style for Turkish fans in the future. "I could have continued to play for the Germany Under-21 side but I've told the German Football Association I want to play for Turkey at senior level," Serkan said. "I had no hesitation taking this decision. I have bigger targets, such as winning the league title by making a significant contribution and playing for Turkey at senior level."
Room for improvement
Serkan has scored twice in eleven Süper Lig games this season and once in four UEFA Cup matches, helping his side earn a meeting with Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the Round of 32. He has impressed with his pace, confidence and excellent technique but admits there is still room for improvement. "I need to be more relaxed when I have an opportunity to score and improve my shooting," he said.