Goalkeeper İrfan Can Eğribayat Eyes Comeback Season with Gençlerbirliği

Gençlerbirliği goalkeeper İrfan Can Eğribayat is embracing the current season as a "return to life, return to football." He has made a strong start, recording 16 saves in the team's first two matches, including a penalty stop. Eğribayat highlighted the team's unity and the coach's strategy, emphasizing a match-by-match approach. He noted that achieving success after 24 years is significant but stressed the importance of maintaining consistency.

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This season, I am looking at it as a return to life, a return to football.

Reflecting on his past, Eğribayat acknowledged his four years at Fenerbahçe, stating that he became the player he is today because of the club and will never forget it. He admitted that playing against his former team in the opening week was challenging, having trained with them just weeks prior. However, he remains committed to giving his all for the jersey he wears.

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If I became İrfan Can Eğribayat, it is of course thanks to Fenerbahçe. I will never forget this.

Eğribayat also touched upon his transfer to Gençlerbirliği, crediting coach Metin Diyadin and his wife for the move. He mentioned experiencing difficulties in his final season at Fenerbahçe and a subsequent unsuccessful stint at Samsunspor. Diyadin's belief in him and his desire to help him regain his form were crucial factors in his decision.

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Playing against your former team is not easy. And playing in the first week was not easy at all.

He explained that while several clubs were interested, he chose Gençlerbirliği due to his wife's connection to Ankara and coach Diyadin's strong desire for him to join. He expressed his gratitude to Fenerbahçe for facilitating the transfer.

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I want to start this season as an İrfan who completely stays on the field. We had talked about this extensively with coach Metin before the transfer.