Le Losc in the colors of Turkey… Every summer for three years, the Northerners have attracted a new Turkish player to Luchin in their squad.
First there was Zeki Çelik in 2018, from Istanbulspor (D2), who arrived incognito and has since become a model of integration.
It was then the turn of Yusuf Yazici, a true legend of Trabzon, landed against a check for 16.5 million euros.
And this season, Burak Yılmaz, national icon, came to fill this delegation, from Besiktas.
Three players unearthed thanks to the usual good glance of the sports advisor of Losc, Luis Campos.
“We were won over by their ability to manage high-tension meetings,” Christophe Galtier, the Lille coach underlined at a press conference.
They are used to playing in derbies with a lot of pressure.
They can be more armed than our young players on this aspect, it is precious.
"
"READ ALSO -
Lille: according to Olivier Létang, the club was on the verge of insolvency
But the Losc changed owners last week, an unexpected turnaround that saw the Lopez-Campos tandem leave, behind the recruitment of these players.
Asked about their future following this change, the Turkish players dispelled any doubts. “When I signed for Lille, Gérard Lopez was my president.
Now he leaves his place but I play for Losc ", has justified Burak Yilmaz in the" Canal Football Club ".
Same story for Yazici.
“This change does not concern me.
My job is to be on the field and to win games, ”said the offensive midfielder twirling in the columns of L'Équipe.
Lille of the Turks
As a result, Mastiffs have been seriously scrutinized in Turkey for some time.
“Today, everyone follows Losc, a club seen as serious and which trusts young people.
Here, it is even called the “Lille of the Turks” on local channels.
Match ratings have exploded on beIN Sports Turkey and are regularly ahead of Premier League and La Liga matches, ”explains Eren Koca, journalist at TRT Spor.
The three Turks are undoubtedly one of the keys to a good start to the season made by Losc, leader of Ligue 1 after sixteen days before moving to Montpellier on Wednesday.
Thanks in particular to a very rapid adaptation by Burak Yilmaz.
The nicknamed "Kral", king in Turkish, has played in all the big clubs in the country, and is considered the big brother of the Lille group.
"He's a very complete striker, good with both feet, his head, and very physical, he can federate a group, he is also the captain of the Turkish selection", describes Eren Koca.
“They rub shoulders on a daily basis. They go out together, they eat together, it's a real family ”
Ibrahim Alci
Arriving in the North, Burak Yilmaz inherited his fetish number engraved on the skin, after a brief discussion with Zeki, who told him: “Big brother, when you are there, the number 17 will be yours, don't 'do not worry.
And to succeed in his acclimatization, he was helped by Ibrahim Alci, president of the Franco-Turkish association of Roubaix.
“I was called by the Turkish consulate to help them adjust to life in France.
I advised them on the places to know in the city, to find their apartments… ”
Today, the trio of players are inseparable.
“They rub shoulders on a daily basis.
They go out together, they eat together, it's a real family.
»A fraternity which gives birth to a perfect alchemy in life and in the field despite very different characters.
"Celik is a workaholic, Yazici is rather the joy of life embodied while Yilmaz is the quiet strength, they complement each other well", assures Ibrahim Alci.
"The financial crisis inevitably attracts clubs like Losc, which find good picks"
Eren Koca
And the Losc can no longer do without them.
With eleven goals scored by Yusuf Yazici, including six in the Europa League (top scorer in this competition), eight more by Burak and two by Zeki, the Turkish trio have already scored 21 of Lille's 42 goals this season, in all competitions.
And if we add the assists, he is involved on 26 goals, or 62% of the achievements.
Turkey therefore takes more and more importance within the northern club following recruitments mainly due to the financial problems of the Turkish leaders.
“Today, keeping stars like Burak is very complicated even for a club like Besiktas.
The big teams are all over-indebted and this financial crisis inevitably attracts clubs like Losc, which are finding good picks, ”notes Eren Koca.
And the story could still go on.
Quietly, the Northern club signed Mustafa Kapi (18), a new Turkish nugget.
If his name does not mean anything to the general public yet, the boy is already known to be the youngest player to have played in a match with Galatasaray, who made a friendly at only 14 against Levski Sofia.
"Fatih Terim (coach of the Istanbul club) wanted to keep him but the player decided to leave and the Lille project is of great interest to him," said Eren Koca.
While waiting to be able to admire his talent, Losc supporters can enjoy the services of his three compatriots, strong men of the Lille club ...
Read also
Series of sports fiascos: the "remountada", the absolute wreck of PSG