President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hailed Galatasaray’s Champions League glory as a “very, very great success for our country” with a special message for hat trick hero Barış Alper Yılmaz that’s got Turkey talking.
The Turkish leader rang the jubilant Galatasaray dressing room moments after their 3-2 defeat in Turin confirmed a stunning 7-5 aggregate win over Juventus to book a last 16 showdown with Liverpool or Tottenham .
And he saved his most emotional words for Yılmaz, the 24 year old who bagged a hat trick in the first leg demolition of the Italian giants.
“You did what was necessary with number 53. Well done. I kiss your eyes,” Erdoğan told the tearful winger, in a phone call that’s since gone viral across Turkish media .
A BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR THE PRESIDENT
Here’s the twist, it was Erdoğan’s birthday. And Okan Buruk’s side delivered the perfect present.
After the first leg 5-2 mauling of Juve in Istanbul, last night’s defeat in Turin was academic. Galatasaray were already through, and the president wanted to make sure they knew it.
“It has been a very, very great success for our country,” Erdoğan told Buruk down the phone from Ankara.
Buruk’s response? “We are also very happy. May it be a birthday gift for you, Mr. President.”
WHAT HAPPENED IN TURIN
Galatasaray lost 3-2 on the night. Didn’t matter. That 5-2 first leg cushion meant they could afford to lose by a couple and still go through.
Juventus threw everything at them. Scored three. But the damage was done in Istanbul, where Yılmaz ran riot and the Turk Telekom Arena was absolute bedlam.
WHO’S NEXT?
The yellow reds now face a blockbuster last 16 tie against either Liverpool or Tottenham. The draw is Friday in Nyon, and both English sides will be sweating on landing Galatasaray.
Why? Because this Galatasaray side are no mugs. They’ve just knocked out Juventus. They’ve got Yılmaz in the form of his life. And they’ve got a president on the phone telling players he’s kissing their eyes.
Momentum? They’ve got it in spades.
THE REACTION
Turkish social media has gone into meltdown. “I kiss your eyes” is trending. Yılmaz is being hailed as a national hero. And Galatasaray fans are already booking flights to London or Liverpool.
For Juventus? Humiliation. Knocked out by Galatasaray, then a phone call from a foreign president celebrating in their own stadium. That’s going to sting for a while.
THE DRAW
Friday, 14:00 in Nyon. Liverpool or Tottenham await.
And you can bet Erdoğan will be watching.
