Turkish national team manager Fatih Terim has admitted that his side face a significant dilemma ahead of their upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers.
Arda Turan is unable to appear in any game for Barcelona until January 2016 due to a transfer ban imposed on the La Liga champions. The Turkish international was expected to feature in the pre-season US tour but the transfer ban also applies to friendly games.
“It’s a serious problem that Arda can’t play for Barcelona – not even in friendlies – thanks to the Fifa ban,” Terim said in an interview with Mundo Deportivo.
“We, Turkey, are in a very tough qualification group for France 2016. We have opponents like Netherlands, Czech Republic, even Iceland, who have improved hugely.
“We’ll have very important games in the period when Arda Turan can’t play for Barca. It’s a shame.
“We’ll be in contact with the club and coordinate with them when he joins up with Turkey.”
Turkey find themselves in forth place in Group A of Euro 2016 and are seven points adrift of leaders Iceland. Terim’s side take on Latvia in Konya on September 3.
Turan joined Barcelona this summer on a five-year deal for €34 million earlier this month from Atletico Madrid.
The 26-year-old provided six assists and scored three goals in 46 appearances for Atletico Madrid last season.Turan returned to first-team training yesterday after recovering from a foot injury sustained earlier last week.
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