Lucescu recommends Umit Akdag for the Romanian National Team

Mircea Lucescu, who coached the Turkish National Football Team between 2017 and 2019 and is currently the head coach of the Romanian National Team, gave an interview to the Romanian press. The Romanian coach spoke about Ümit Akdağ, who was born in Bucharest and plays for Alanyaspor.

'I SPOKE WITH HIM'
The 80-year-old coach had this to say about Ümit, who plays for Alanyaspor: "I spoke with Ümit Akdağ, I tried to convince him to come, but it didn't work out. I told him to think about it a little more. He still hopes to be called up to the Turkish National Team. However, it's difficult for him to play there because there are players who left with me. For example, Merih Demiral, who scored two goals against Austria in the last 16 of the European Championship, and Çağlar, who returned to his country because he chose money."

'HE WANTS TO PLAY FOR TURKEY'
I told him it would be very difficult to play there, but that he had a chance here — at least until Drăgușin returned. He said he had spoken to his family. He was born here, but his family is Turkish, so he returned to Turkey. Of course, at some point he wants to return to his roots. He wants to play for Turkey!"

UMIT AKDAG'S CAREER
Born in Bucharest in 2003, Ümit Akdağ began his football career in the Steaua Bucharest youth academy. In 2015, he caught the attention of Chelsea and moved to the English giants' youth academy.

The young defender transferred to Alanyaspor in 2017, was loaned to Göztepe in 2023, and then to the French club Toulouse in 2024. At the start of the season, he returned to the Mediterranean-based team and successfully made his way into the first-team squad.