ISL: Fans will enjoy every minute of my partnership with Mutu, says Pune City's new signing Tuncay

FC Pune City continued their squad overhaul for the second season of the Indian Super League as they confirmed the arrival of Turkish forward Tuncay Sanli on Monday. The 33-year-old former Middlesborough star, who also played five seasons for Turkish power houses Fenerbahce, joins Romanian forward Adrian Mutu at Pune. The Maharashtra club continue to address their goal, scoring issues from the first season where they finished sixth scoring 12 goals in their 14 matches. [caption id=“attachment_2386456” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File picture of Tuncay Sanli. Getty[/caption] Speaking to Firstpost, Tuncay Sanli expressed his delight at joining Pune City FC and becoming the first Turkish player to sign up for ISL, calling it a new chapter in his life. “I am very fortunate to get a chance to be a part of this league which is growing in popularity. It was a logical move for me to be a part of it,” Tuncay said. Tuncay also spoke about the importance of having someone with the experience of David Platt as the team’s manager. “I know David Platt from my time in England. He was also the coach of the England U-21 side when I was playing for the Turkey U-21 team and from my interactions with him I know him to be a very approachable and friendly manager who has a unique methodology to coaching. He is a big reason for me to sign up with Pune,” the Turkish forward said. Head Coach Platt said in a statement, “I’ve known Tuncay since he played against my U-21 team more than 10 years ago. His offensive ability and overall work rate are characteristics I have admired since that time. I’m very excited at the prospect of working with him now for the benefit of FC Pune City.” With Adrian Mutu  as the marquee player for Pune City FC, Tuncay said that fans should expect an exciting season with the two strikers playing in tandem. “The fans will enjoy every minute that we are out there on the pitch. Not just Mutu and me, we have players like Didier Zokora, Nickey Shorey and very talented Indian players and we will do our best as a team to bring success to Pune,” said Tuncay. Having scored 22 goals in 80 appearances for Turkey, Tuncay can play on his own up front and also on the left, like he did during his time with Boro. At 33, Tuncay thinks he can use his experience to play deeper behind the strikers too, if asked to. “Over the years my football knowledge has matured and I am not just looking to score goals. I am looking to be more of a creator too,” he told Firstpost. After eye-catching performances at Middlesborough, Tuncay’s career did not exactly live up to the expectations he created with subsequent spells at Wolfsburg in Germany and a transfer to Stoke City not producing great numbers. “I have no regrets about the moves I made in my career,” says Tuncay. “I see my stints at various clubs as learning opportunities and I am very eager to get that across to Indian youngsters.” “I will tell them to work hard, be very ambitious and give it all on the pitch. That is what I have learned from my time with various clubs in Europe,” he added. The CEO of FC Pune City CEO Gaurav Modwel spoke about Tuncay’s experience at the top level. “He has been a proven goal-scorer in every league that he has played. I especially appreciate his work rate and his never say die spirit. In addition to his performances on the pitch, I am sure that he will be a great influence in the dressing room,” he said in a statement. Apart from on-field success, the Turkish forward wants to leave his mark  through social interactions and involvement at grassroot-level. “Having come from a difficult background myself, there is a lot I can tell these young kids,” he said. “I would also love to explore the Indian culture during my time here. There are a few historic places I have in my mind that I want to visit,” he added, saying that the intrigue about how sport is developing in India is one of the many reasons that convinced him to make the move. ————– Note: Tuncay Sanli spoke to Firstpost over the phone with the aid of his legal counsel acting as a translator.