Veteran striker Edin Dzeko, who recently joined Fiorentina after the end of his contract with Turkish giants Fenerbahçe, has shared candid thoughts on his experience in Türkiye and the challenges of playing in such a high-pressure environment. Speaking to Italian media, the 39-year-old Bosnian forward explained how the atmosphere surrounding Turkish football differs from elsewhere in Europe.
“Türkiye Is Not an Easy Country, There Is Too Much Pressure”
Dzeko emphasized that the passion in Türkiye comes with extraordinary expectations:
“Türkiye is not an easy country. There is too much pressure. Twitter dominates there, and it determines the mood and dissatisfaction of the fans. It influences the entire atmosphere.”
His comments highlight the central role of social media in shaping narratives around football in Türkiye, where fan communities are highly active and vocal online. Players and coaches often find themselves under constant scrutiny, which can magnify both victories and defeats.
Competing Against Galatasaray
Reflecting on last season’s title race, Dzeko underlined how relentless the competition with Galatasaray had been.
“The year before, we finished with 99 points, only three behind Galatasaray. But even if we had 105 points, we still would have been second. That shows how tough the league is.”
This rivalry has long been one of the fiercest in Turkish football, and Dzeko’s comments reinforce the intensity that foreign players often experience when they arrive in the Süper Lig.
Mourinho’s Obsession With Winning
One of the most striking parts of Dzeko’s remarks concerned new Fenerbahçe coach José Mourinho. According to Dzeko, the Portuguese manager has an almost obsessive focus on securing the league title:
“I know that Mourinho definitely wants to win the league. It is almost like an obsession for him.”
The forward illustrated this by recounting a recent incident involving rival reactions:
“We played against a strong side, Göztepe. In the 93rd minute, Talisca missed a penalty. Immediately, Galatasaray fans began tweeting that the referee tried to help by pushing the ball in with his foot, pointing to the movement of his leg. That’s the environment in Türkiye.”
A New Chapter in Italy
Having played in some of Europe’s top leagues—Germany, England, Italy, and Türkiye—Dzeko’s move to Fiorentina represents both a return to familiar territory and a chance to continue competing at a high level despite his age. In Serie A, he will bring his wealth of experience and leadership to a team eager to challenge in both domestic and European competitions.
For Fiorentina, signing Dzeko adds depth to their attack and provides younger players with an opportunity to learn from a seasoned professional who has excelled across multiple football cultures.
Editorial Perspective
Dzeko’s reflections on Türkiye provide insight into the unique pressures of playing in the Süper Lig, where passion and expectation often blur with the power of social media. His words also underline the magnitude of Mourinho’s arrival in Fenerbahçe—seen by many as a mission to finally break Galatasaray’s dominance.
At the same time, his move to Fiorentina signals the enduring value of experience in football. Even at 39, Dzeko remains not just a striker but also a storyteller, carrying with him the lessons of footballing cultures as diverse as Manchester, Rome, Istanbul, and now Florence.
