Fenerbahçe’s Amrabat Talks Transfer, Mourinho, and First Goal for the Club

Sofyan Amrabat shared that he received offers from other clubs before joining Fenerbahçe and that the process took a long time.

Talking about his discussions with Jose Mourinho and Acun Ilıcalı, Amrabat said, “I always make my choices by listening to my heart. What I felt was wonderful. I also had a conversation with Mourinho. As I’ve mentioned before, when Mourinho calls you — and everyone knows him well; he’s ‘The Special One’ — it’s very hard to say no to him.”

Amrabat, whom Fenerbahçe signed from Fiorentina at the start of the season, discussed his transfer journey, his goal in the Trabzonspor match, and his thoughts on Mourinho in a video released on Fenerbahçe’s YouTube channel.

The Transfer Process

Amrabat noted the lengthy transfer period: “The process was long. We were in contact for almost two months. I was in communication with Acun Ilıcalı, who is truly a great person. During our first conversation, I had positive and good feelings. I think I’ve mentioned before, I felt like I would be joining a big family. He expressed his desire to bring me into the Fenerbahçe family, which is very meaningful for a player.”

“It’s Hard to Say No When Mourinho Calls”

The experienced player continued, “I always make my choices by listening to my heart. What I felt was wonderful. I also had a meeting with Mourinho. As I said before, when Mourinho calls you — and everyone knows him well; he’s ‘The Special One’ — it’s very hard to say no to him. But most importantly, there was Fenerbahçe, a magnificent, very big club. For all these reasons, from my conversations with Acun Bey, to my talks with our coach, to the fan messages — I’ve received thousands of them daily since being linked with Fenerbahçe.”

“I Wanted to Play for This Great Community”

Regarding the transfer, Amrabat also added, “I received offers from other clubs, but my decision was swift and clear. I wanted to play for this great community, and I am very happy and grateful for my choice and to be here.”

Words on Jose Mourinho

Speaking highly of Jose Mourinho, Amrabat stated, “Our compatibility is excellent. Everyone knows Mourinho. I admire his attitude, the way he leads, his communication style. He also has a kind, warm side, which I think is very important for a coach. He’s a fantastic coach with a strong tactical approach. I believe everyone on the team really loves him. He’s an amazing coach and a good person.”

Goal Against Trabzonspor

Reflecting on his decisive goal against Trabzonspor in the Süper Lig, Amrabat said, “For me, scoring isn’t the most important thing. I’m someone who always tries to help the team. I want to contribute to the team’s play, but it was my first goal with the Fenerbahçe jersey. It was a significant goal, one that brought us victory. Especially in a match like this — I don’t want to get into it, but everyone knows what happened last year. I had said that God is great, and I believe justice was served. So, that goal we found was no coincidence.”

This season, Amrabat has appeared in 15 matches for Fenerbahçe, scoring 2 goals and recording 2 assists.