Has Trabzonspor gambled away in the case of Mehmet Can Aydin? In any case, the Turkish champions lose their regular right-back shortly before the season

Mehmet Can Aydin was loaned to Trabzonspor from FC Schalke 04 last season. The 2022 Turkish champions had an option to buy the right-back for €1.4 million, but did not exercise it. Aydin therefore returned to S04 in the summer.

If Trabzonspor had signed Aydin, he would have received a two-year contract with an option for a further year. The defensive player also wanted to recommend himself for the Turkish national team at the Süper Lig club.

In the first half of the season, Schalke’s home-grown talent from the Knappenschmiede was also a regular in the Turkish top flight. However, when the club signed the experienced ex-Dortmund player Thomas Meunier in February, Aydin was sidelined. He hardly played at all and Trabzonspor did not take up the option. It was clear that the Turks wanted to rely on the Belgian again this season.

Meunier picks up option, Trabzonspor wants to sue

Late on Monday evening, however, Thomas Meunier exercised a unilateral option by e-mail five minutes before the deadline and terminated his contract in Trabzon. On Tuesday, Trabzonspor announced its intention to take legal action against Meunier and his new club. Although there was an agreement that Meunier could leave the club for family reasons, this was subject to conditions that were not met.

In Trabzon, the two loan returnees Serkan Asan and Ali Alperen Celik are initially only two loan returnees under contract for the right side of defense. While Asan made 67 appearances for the Trabzon professionals before his season with relegated Pendikspor, 21-year-old Celik has never played for the first team.

That won’t matter to the Royal Blues. After all, Aydin and Adrian Gantenbein are firmly planned for the right side of defense this season. He will be joined by young Taylan Bulut. However, Aydin’s contract expires at the end of the season