Turkish prodigy Yunus Emre Konak’s Premier League adventure has hit a heartbreaking pause according to Turkish journalist Salim Manav.
Fresh off his big-money move to Brentford, Manav reports that the 18-year-old midfielder faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a tendon rupture during an FA Cup warm-up.
READ: Who is Arda Guler? The 18-year-old ‘Turkish Messi’ Wanted by Europe’s Biggest Clubs
This cruel twist of fate sees Konak grounded for at least a month, with estimates suggesting a 4-5 month recovery period. Just as he was set to embark on his English journey, fate dealt him a wicked blow.
Konak’s rise has been meteoric. From starting at a football academy at 12, to honing his skills in Sivasspor’s youth ranks, to dazzling in the first team and earning a €4.5 million transfer to a prestigious club like Brentford, his story was a masterclass in talent and hard work.
This injury, however, echoes the misfortune of another Turkish starlet, Arda Guler. He too suffered a training ground injury shortly after joining Real Madrid, forcing him to endure a lengthy wait before finally securing his first-team debut.
I included Yunus in “the 60 best young talents of world football born in 2006” for The Guardian last year.
Konak’s Brentford adventure will have to wait. But the club and its fans remain steadfast in their support, eagerly awaiting his return to full health and, hopefully, a triumphant debut.
Let’s hope Konak’s setback proves to be a temporary hurdle, a speed bump on his path to Premier League glory. The football world waits with bated breath for the day this young talent, once again, graces the pitch.
