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7 mai 2018
Focus on… Yusuf Sari, a Marseille boy in Turkey
The Toulon Tournament is fast approaching. To wait patiently until the beginning of the 46th edition of the competition (from 26th May to 9th June), let’s take a look at the players who could shine during the Maurice Revello Tournament 2018. Today, we talkabout Yusuf Sari, the Olympique de Marseille youngster
French Cup U19 runner-up, first steps with the OM first-team, first professional contract, first minutes at the professional level, first Turkey U21 call-up… Yusuf Sari has enjoyed some exciting moments over the last months. Since his arrival at Olympique de Marseille on July 2015, the 19-year-old midfielder has enjoyed an astonishing rise that led him to the Marseille first-team.
Last season, he has lived one of the biggest moments of his young career when he reached the final of the French Cup U19, commonly known as the Gambardella Cup. His performances in this competition helped him to catch the eye of the Marseille first-team head coach Rudi Garcia who incorporated him in the squad during the last summer.
Alongside famous players like Dimitri Payet, Luiz Gustavo, Adil Rami or Steve Mandanda, the Martigues-born learns and improves. His efforts have been rewarded quickly as he made his Ligue 1 debut on September during the 2-0 win over Toulouse.
The dream became reality and the fairytale story didn’t finished at that moment as Sari signed on November his first professional contract which keeps him at Marseille until 2021. He continued his rise on January as he started his first game at the professional level during the French Cup clash against Epinal (2-0).
“Honestly, I have struggled. I need to work a lot. Only work pays off. I was surprised to start the game even if I knew that my moment will come. I took this opportunity. The most difficult thing was to start a match like that”, he said after his start with OM.
Sari has made four appearances with the Marseille first-team this season so far. His performances with Marseille have attracted the interest of the Turkish Federation. “We are in talks with him. He has already been called-up with the Turkey U19 team but he couldn’t join us due to his injury”, revealed to us the Turkey's Team Manager Can Günal few months ago. Eventually, Sari earned his first international caps with Turkey during the Euro U21 qualifiers against Sweden (0-3) and Malta (4-2) on March.
Whatever it be, this season will be unforgettable for Sari. And his current campaign could end by a participation to the Maurice Revello Tournament 2018.
Mathieu Lauricella
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