Berkay Yilmaz is back at SC Freiburg – and he has clear goals. The 21-year-old defender wants to establish himself in the Bundesliga and 'gain minutes.' After two loan years at 1. FC Nürnberg, he returns to his youth club, where he began his dream of becoming a professional. 'I'm extremely excited and can hardly wait for it to start,' Yilmaz says in the training camp in Schruns. SC Freiburg finished last season in 7th place with 47 points (13W-8D-13L) and now aims to strengthen their defense with Yilmaz's return.
How does Yilmaz plan to break through at SC Freiburg?
Yilmaz gained valuable experience in Nürnberg: 24 games in his first season, 33 in the second. But in Freiburg, he faces a big challenge. Christian Günter remains captain and a regular on the left side of defense. Jordy Makengo is seen as the natural successor. Yilmaz, however, sees the competition as an opportunity: 'It strengthens me and the team. I will do everything to be in the starting lineup.'
What positions can Yilmaz play?
In the training camp, Yilmaz showed his versatility. In the friendly against Derby County, he played in central midfield, and in training, he also played as a right-back. 'I'm grateful for every minute of playing time, no matter the position,' he says. His strengths: ball control and dribbling. 'I look for solutions with the ball and am not a deep runner.'
How important is Yilmaz's family for his career?
Yilmaz's parents moved with him to Freiburg. 'The bond with my family is very strong because I know what they have sacrificed for me,' he says. Today, they are 'people who push me and talk about things other than football.' It's also practical: 'It's nice to come home and have Mama's cooking.' His favorite dish: Lahmacun.
