Bournemouth’s new loan signing, Enes Unal, is brimming with enthusiasm and confidence after a warm welcome on the South Coast. The Turkish striker spoke to Radio Solent about his move, promising goals, hard work, and a fighting spirit on the pitch.
He spoke to Radio Solent on making the move to the South Coast: “It’s been perfect. It’s been a lovely few days. When you come to a new place you have some doubts, you don’t know if it’s going to take some time, how they are going to receive you but it was just lovely. Everyone welcomed me with open arms and I’m really happy.”
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When asked about his strengths, Unal was clear: “I just want to show what I am capable of. I can score goals, it was my thing from a young age, I learned and worked on it. I can score some goals that some people would say are difficult but to me it is a natural because I work a lot on it.”
Beyond personal goals, Unal emphasized his commitment to the team: “I want to give a lot of work to [the] team, be a part of the group.
“I really believe in being a family and a strong unit. This is one of the things I love about football and sport generally. I’ve always been a physical player.“
Despite not being the biggest or strongest, Unal highlighted his “Turkish blood” and fighting spirit. He relishes physical challenges and promises to push defenders and create problems for opponents.
“I’m not the biggest or the strongest but I have that Turkish blood in me. I just like to push myself and be hungry and push the defenders. It can be difficult at the beginning because there are some big and strong guys but I don’t mind it. When I’m on the pitch, I’m not scared and I will give 100% and I will try to create problems. That’s what I like to do,” he added.
While ambitious, Unal acknowledges the need for adaptation: “My only objective for the next three months is just to get going and adapt as much as possible,” he said. This pragmatic approach suggests a willingness to learn and contribute quickly.
Unal’s interview paints a picture of a motivated striker eager to prove himself. His focus on goals, teamwork, and a tenacious attitude could be valuable assets for Bournemouth. If he adapts quickly, his arrival could be a significant boost to their attacking options.
The Turkish international forward could make his debut today away to Fulham as revealed by manager Andoni Iraola. He revealed that Unal will be part of the squad right away and that he hopes he adapts ‘fast’.
Iraola said: “For sure there have been difficult days for him (waiting), because he was looking forward to coming here to start training with the team.
“But he has been training with us for the last two or three days.
“I think he is doing well. He will be part of the squad and he is ready to help the team straightway.
“Obviously, like with Romain (Faivre), we will have to spend some time now giving him info, the things we want from each player.
“But also he speaks two or three languages, so it has been really easy for him.
“I hope this process of adaptation is quite fast and goes well.”
The 26-year-old striker netted 36 goals in 109 games for La Liga’s Getafe since joining from Villarreal in 2020.