09.10.2025 23:26
Former Bursaspor goalkeeper Sebastian Frey made striking confessions about his days in Turkey. Admitting that he was subjected to mobbing, Frey also explained why the team's then-coach Şenol Güneş did not want him in the squad.
Former French goalkeeper Sebastian Frey, who played for Bursaspor between 2013-2015, made striking statements about his days in Turkey. Frey made many shocking confessions, from the tension he experienced with coach Şenol Güneş to the mobbing he faced.
"MY FIRST YEAR WENT QUITE WELL"
Speaking about his early days at Bursaspor, Frey said, "When I received an offer from Bursaspor, I was both surprised and very happy. I had no questions in my mind when I went to Turkey. On the contrary, I went with the excitement of getting to know a different culture. The fans in Turkey are really very passionate. They are so passionate that everything has to go smoothly. My first year at Bursaspor went quite well, but in my second year, there were presidential elections at the club."
"HE TOLD ME TO PACK MY THINGS AND LEAVE"
Frey, who said things started to get complicated in his second year at Bursaspor, stated, "The president who transferred players like me and Taye Taiwo was quite open-minded and had a European mentality. He was building a decent team. However, the president lost the elections and a nationalist president came in. With the new president, a Turkish coach, Şenol Güneş, was brought in. Although I had two more years on my contract, the new coach told me in our first meeting to pack my things and leave, stating that he did not want a foreign goalkeeper."
"I STATED THAT I COULD TRAIN THE GOALKEEPERS"
Frey, who opposed the idea of leaving the team, said, "I told him that the decision was not his but mine. I sincerely explained to him that I did not come because I was fascinated by the beauty of football, but because I found the offer made to me good. I was already at the end of my career, and I told him that whether he played me or not did not mean much to me. I just wanted him not to disrespect me. If he was not going to be disrespectful and was determined not to play me, I stated that I could train the goalkeepers."
"I RECOMMEND YOU TO LEAVE THE TEAM"
Emphasizing that Şenol Güneş persistently wanted to send him away from the team, the experienced goalkeeper said, "I am in the team, my contract is ongoing, and I am happy in Turkey. However, he told me, 'No, no, I don't want your help, I recommend you to leave the team.' I thanked him and told him that I had a good salary and that I would enjoy my vacation for two years."
"I WAS SUBJECTED TO MOBBING"
Frey, who revealed that he was subjected to mobbing at Bursaspor, stated, "I told him that I would not make mistakes and that they should not make mistakes either. I was subjected to mobbing for a year. But what mobbing... Taye Taiwo left the team after six months. I promised myself that I would stay in the team and not give up. Later, I reported Bursaspor to FIFA due to mobbing and failure to fulfill contract obligations. FIFA sided with me, and their lawyers did a really great job."
"THEY TRIED TO BE SLY"
Continuing to recount his experiences at the green-white club, Frey said, "My lawyer told me, 'Frey, if you are determined to stay, the mobbing will continue.' That's why he wanted me to write down everything that happened to me on a piece of paper or on my phone; he wanted me to keep a diary. Just imagine how many pages the file of a year-long mobbing would have. The court lasted a full three years. I warned Bursaspor and told them not to mess with me anymore. They tried to be sly, but everything turned out against them. I explained to them that we European players are protected by FIFA and relevant institutions. In short, I told them not to treat me like a fool. As a result, Bursaspor was relegated to the second league and received a transfer ban. Today, they are probably in the 3rd League. I had warned them; I didn't ask for anything from anyone, I just wanted them to leave me alone."
"YOU WILL FIND WHAT I DID TO BE LITTLE"
The star goalkeeper, who stated that he did not bow to what was done to him, said, "If I were to explain what they made me go through for a year, you would find what I did to be little. What I did to them is nothing compared to what they made me go through. As soon as I arrived at the training facilities, everything started; there was no physical attack, nor could there be, but there were many things. I did not bow down. They paid all my money, along with the interest. This is really a sad situation for them. The city was very beautiful to live in, and Bursaspor was a great club. More than half of the clubs in France and Italy do not have the facilities that Bursaspor has. They wanted to be tough on some issues. It worked for some players, but it didn't work for me; still, I warned them about it. I received offers when leaving Bursaspor, but I was psychologically exhausted and decided to quit football."