Arda Turan: "Messi told me that if I want the no.10 at Barcelona, it’s mine"

Speaking in an interview with Turkish media NTVSpor, Arda Turan has revealed that Leo Messi has offered him his number 10 shirt.

Having signed from Atletico Madrid this summer, Arda has yet to be assigned a number by Barcelona, but given that he can’t actually play until January due to Barcelona’s transfer ban, it’s not the most pressing issue.

The Turk was presented to the Camp Nou crowd on Wednesday night with a blank shirt, as was fellow newcomer Aleix Vidal, but Arda now has an iconic shirt number if he wants to take Messi up on his offer.

Considering how synonymous the number 10 has become with Messi (he also wears it for Argentina – symbolically, given that Diego Maradona also wore it), it’s quite a gesture of generosity from the Argentine.

Indeed, it would probably have serious implications for his image and commercial interests were Messi to give up the number 10 shirt, but it seems he prioritizes teammates over business.

Arda wore the number 10 shirt at Atletico Madrid, and revealed:

‘When I started with the Turkish national team I wore number 14 because my Dad is a fan of Cruyff, and then I took the number 10 at Atletico.

Messi told me that if I want it at Barcelona, it’s mine.’

credit: 101greatgoals