Arda Turan: I am proud to play alongside Yilmaz

18-Mar-2013 10:10:00 PM

The Atletico Madrid winger says he is lucky to play with the Galatasaray striker at international level

Arda Turan says he is proud to play alongside Burak Yilmaz for Turkey.

The Atletico Madrid man is preparing to face Andorra and Hungary in two vital World Cup 2014 qualifiers alongside the Galatasaray striker, and the 26-year-old has moved to heap praise on his international colleague.

He told reporters: "To have a friend like that man obviously makes me very proud. Everybody in Europe knows his name. He is a star."

Turkey are currently fourth in Group D, but two wins this week would improve their chances of making it to Brazil in 2014 and Turan is confident of achieving that goal.

"We have a very good coach and our heads are in the right place. We all have goals, dreams and one aim," he explained.

"Football is serious business. I remember in a Euro 2008 qualifier we lost points to Malta. The best way to deal with Andorra is to take it seriously from the beginning."

Turkey play away at Andorra on March 22 before hosting Hungary in Istanbul on March 26.