Kerim Frei ‘I grew up playing against Tore at Chelsea’ [divider]

Beşiktaş winger Kerim Frei spoke to Lig Tv about his transition from Fulham to the Turkish Süper Lig.

“My favourite player at Beşiktaş is Gökhan Töre because we grew up playing against each other,” Frei said.

“We knew each other when I was at Fulham and he was at Chelsea and both have similar styles. 

“It helped me settle in knowing Töre was already at the club. 

“Beşiktaş have some very good players but I also respect Wesley Sneijder and Alper Potuk form the leagues other strong clubs.”

Töre was a Chelsea academy player before joining HSV, followed by a move to Rubin Kazan and later Beşiktaş.

Frei also explained his decision behind opting to chose the Turkish national team.

“I was born in Austria, grew up in Switzerland, played for Switzerland youth sides and could have picked Morocco as well as Austria and Switzerland at national team level but I always felt more Turkish and that influenced by decision,” Frei said.

Frei was born in Feldkirch, Austria but was raised in Switzerland by his Turkish father and Moroccan mother.

The 20-year-old winger was first spotted by Swiss side Grasshoppers aged 13 and was snapped up by Fulham just three years later.

After rising through the youth ranks the Fulham starlet was given his Premier League debut on 10 December 2011, in an away match against Swansea City aged just 18.

The young winger joined Beşiktaş from Fulham for £3 million last season.

Beşiktaş have three Premier League academy players playing regular first-team football this season. 20-year-old Frei, 22-year-0ld Töre and former Arsenal player 21-year-old Oğuzhan Özyakup.