‘Erdoğan is basically like a friend’

The Turkish football star Arda Turan has given an interview to French So Foot magazine and made exclusive remarks.

According to Turkish news outlet NTV's article, Turan said that he perceives Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as a friend.

"I've known him since I was eight. Erdoğan said I was a good example for the country and congratulated me. He loves football, sometimes he comes to the locker room prior to the games and wishes success. When we come across each other, we talk about everything, just like friends" Turan said. He also added that he will invite Erdoğan to his wedding when he gets married.

"I could have been a diplomat if I wasn't a footballer. Why wouldn't I be a chairman [of a football club]?" Turan said.

Asked about the 2013 Gezi protests, Turan said he doesn't want to talk too much on the matter "because it was a discriminating situation."

He commented, "all I can say is that, according to me, only the protests in the first three days were legitimate. However, they later became excessive no matter what."