Hakan, Kenan, Kerem, Ferdi... Vincenzo Montella explains the status of injured players

Vincenzo Montella, the technical director of the Turkish National Football Team, has offered an update on the fitness of several key players ahead of an upcoming friendly match against Venezuela. Speaking at a press conference alongside national player Arda Güler, Montella addressed the status of captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Kenan Yıldız, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, and Ferdi Kadıoğlu.

Montella indicated that Çalhanoğlu is gradually rejoining the team, with Yıldız expected to follow soon. He suggested that Aktürkoğlu and Kadıoğlu might see a few minutes of play in the upcoming match. The primary objective, Montella stated, is to ensure all players are in optimal condition for the June 13 match.

Reflecting on the World Cup group draw, Montella described the teams as closely matched, emphasizing that there are no easy games in football. He also took a moment to praise Vincenzo Italiano, the new coach of Beşiktaş, calling him a good friend and a highly capable manager. Montella shared a personal anecdote about Italiano's significant contributions to a fundraising effort for earthquake victims in Adana, highlighting his strong character.