Germany’s Tears for Uzun: A Rising Star Chooses Turkey Over Die Mannschaft
30 septembre 2025
The Decision and Reactions
In a development that captured the attention of football fans in both Germany and Turkey, Rudi Voller, Germany’s national team sporting director, expressed deep sorrow over Can Uzun’s decision to play for Turkey rather than Germany.
The 19-year-old forward for Eintracht Frankfurt had emerged as one of the Bundesliga’s brightest young talents, a decision made in spring 2024 after lengthy talks with the German Football Association during which Germany pressed to bring him to Die Mannschaft.
Voller said on the sidelines of the premiere of his documentary in Frankfurt: “We tried with all our might. It was a productive talk with his father and advisor, but the player was really undecided; in the end he chose Turkey. It is a legitimate decision that we must respect.”
Andreas Rettig, the federation’s chief executive, joined in acknowledging Uzun’s high regard within the association: “We gave our best effort to persuade him to play for Germany, but we did not succeed. When a family decides after deep consideration to take this path, I don’t think it’s our place to criticise.”
Rettig added that reopening the topic is not meaningful and that the federation supports Uzun as he continues with Turkey. “He chose to play for Turkey, and we respect and encourage that.”
Uzun’s image and performance
The article notes that Uzun is a standout among England’s new generation of talents, with the Turkish side looking to harness his potential as a long-term attacking piece. The piece also references the decision’s cultural and emotional dimensions, beyond pure sport.
Uzun’s Form and Future
Can Uzun, a 19-year-old forward, has become one of the season’s revelations in the Bundesliga 2024-25. He has started in all five of Frankfurt’s first league matches, scoring five goals and providing three assists, a start that has drawn attention from fans and analysts alike. His growth has underscored the potential of dual-nationality players to shape national teams in the coming years.
His standout form has not been limited to scoring: Uzun has shown playmaking ability and created opportunities for teammates, justifying the decision by Turkey to bolster their attack while Germany regrets the loss of a talent who could have been a long-term staple.
Current law still allows, in theory, a national switch for players with dual eligibility, if they have not exceeded the cap. However, Rettig stressed that Germany does not intend to reopen this case, reaffirming support for Uzun’s path with Turkey.
The decision is seen as a boost for Turkish football as they aim to build a new generation of talented players, while Germany must cope with the missing piece in attack for future tournaments. The broader takeaway is the ongoing complexity of national-team choices for players with multiple nationalities, where emotion and identity compete with sport.
As Uzun continues to dazzle for Eintracht Frankfurt, fans in Germany and Turkey await what his future holds, both at club level and for the Turkish national team.
Punchlines:
Punchline 1: If football had a frequent-flyer program, Uzun would have enough miles to change the flag twice before breakfast.
Punchline 2: Germany’s loss might be Turkey’s gain, but hey, at least the ball doesn’t care about passports—it's still chasing the back of the net.
