04.05.2026 20:31
Erzurumspor President Ahmet Dal, who criticized the transfer cost of N'Golo Kante, whom Fenerbahçe added to its squad during the mid-season transfer window, apologized to the yellow-navy community, stating that he was misunderstood after the reactions.
Erzurumspor President Ahmet Dal, who finished the Trendyol 1st League in first place and promoted to the Super League, made striking statements regarding the transfer of N'Golo Kante, whom Fenerbahce added to their squad during the mid-season transfer window.
''THE DEBT OF THESE CLUBS BECOMES OUR DEBT''
Criticizing the cost of the Kante transfer, Ahmet Dal said, "Fenerbahce paid 14.5 million euros for Kante during the mid-season. This amount is enough to finish a club in the top 10 of the Super League. In the second year, he will receive 11 million euros, and in the third year, another 11 million euros, and we know he will leave at the end of this season. Fenerbahce is unstable. The debt of these clubs becomes our debt, the country's debt." These words caused reactions in the sports community.
HE APOLOGIZED FOR HIS WORDS ABOUT KANTE
Following this statement, Ahmet Dal made another statement, expressing that he was misunderstood, saying, "While discussing the spending and economy of teams like Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, Besiktas, and Trabzonspor, which we call the locomotives of Turkish football, I gave an example: When an Anatolian club first enters the Super League, its budget to stay in the league is around 10-15 million euros. At that moment, I thought of the 14 million euros that Fenerbahce reported to the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) for Kante. I said that 14 million euros is the amount normally sufficient for an Anatolian club to stay in the league, but a big club can give this to a single player. I am not criticizing Fenerbahce's transfer policy here; I repeat, we have no right or authority to do so."
''I WAS MISUNDERSTOOD, I APOLOGIZE''
Continuing his remarks, President Dal explained, ''Big clubs have big revenues; they can afford these amounts. Players can and should come. I really like Kante; he is a player I followed even before he came to Fenerbahce, known both on and off the field. If I have offended or upset anyone, I apologize. I was misunderstood, but I apologize to the entire football community, fans, and especially Fenerbahce fans. I think the matter is now clear.''