Former Barcelona star unrecognisable at 36 with huge grey beard just ONE YEAR after retiring from football | The Sun

A FORMER Barcelona star looks unrecognisable one year after his retirement.

The 36-year-old ended his illustrious football career after two years with final club Galatasaray.

An image of the winger circulated on social media on Sunday.

In the picture they donned a teal colour top with black shorts and off-white Nike trainers. They also sported a dark blue cap and a full beard.

The 100-cap Turkey international played in La Liga for nine years after beginning his career with Galatasaray.

He spent the first four of his Spain years with Atletico Madrid, making 178 appearances at the Vicente Calderón Stadium before sealing a £35m (£29m initial fee) transfer to Barcelona.

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However, things did not go according to plan, and the star fell out of favour at the Camp Nou – which is now undergoing refurbishment – as he did not play a single minute of the 2017/18 season.

They were then shipped out on loan to Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir for the final two years of his Barcelona contract.

He then made an emotional return to Galatasaray, where he stayed until retirement.

The mystery player can be revealed as: Arda Turan.

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Turan won two La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey's and the Turkish Superliga twice in his career.

He even won the Europa League and Uefa Super Cup while also being a Champions League runner up in 2013/14.

On the international stage Turan helped Turkey finish third in the 2008 European Championships, with his century of appearances also making him the country's fifth-most capped player.

Since retiring, Turan now manages Eyupspor in Turkey's second tier.

Reacting to the image, fans online were in disbelief that it was him.

One fan joked: "Even my grandpa looks younger 😭😭."

A second remarked: "I thought that was Jurgen Klopp."

While a third said: "He looks like 45."


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