Liverpool star Emre Can has revealed more about his roots and personal life in his latest interview with Frankfurter Rundschau.
Can revealed that he feels both Turkish and German at the same time. The 22-year-old is one of three ethnic Turks regularly called up to the Germany national team with the others being Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil and Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan.
The Reds midfielder could have played for both Turkey and Germany at international level but picked the country he was born in.
Can said: “I always played in the German national since the U15. My goal has always been to play again in the German senior team. I’m as Turk, as I’m German, my parents speak German well, I am very proud and I am proud that I can say: I am German, and I am a Turk.”
‘Ne mutlu Türküm diyene’ (English: How happy is the one who says I am Turkish) is a popular saying by the founder of the Turkish republic Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and it seems Can has invented his own variation on the saying adding German to the mix.
Can’s family originate from the Afyon region of Turkey and he is bi-lingual in both Turkish and German.
Liverpool youngster Samed Yesil like Can is also of Turkish origin and was born in Germany.
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