Two big players of English football, MU and Liverpool are competing to sign contracts with Orkun Kokcu, a controversial player 3 years ago and currently wearing Benfica.
According to the Cause Offside, two Premier League giants are racing to sign a contract with Benfica midfielder Orkun Kokcu, who are also being pursued by Tottenham, Inter Milan and Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas in his hometown.
40 million euros are said to be the fee that Benfica requests for a 24 -year -old player, who joined the Dragao team from Feyenoord for about 25 million euros under a contract with a term of 5 years.
Liverpool is the most popular team KOKCU. He wishes to be transferred to the Premier League champion after working under the guidance of coach Arne Slot at the Dutch team.
Kokcu was the captain of Feyenoord under Slot, but in 2022 he decided to give up the captain's armband when the players participated in the campaign to integrate into the LGBTQ+community. The captains wore a tape printed on the Onelove rainbow symbol, but Kokcu did not want. Instead, the defender Gernot Trauer wore it in a 3-1 victory over Az Alkmaar.
Kokcu, who scored a goal and had an assist in this victory, made a statement before the match explaining the religious reason behind his decision.
“I decided not to wear a rainbow captain in this round,” he said in a statement posted on Feyenoord's official account.
“I think it is important to emphasize that I respect people regardless of religion, background or hobby. I believe that everyone is free to do what they want or feel. I fully understand the importance of this action, but for my religious faith, I don't feel that I am the right person to support this.
That's why I don't feel comfortable wearing the captain's armband. I can imagine some people disappointed with this. It was absolutely not my intention, although I realized that I might not be able to immediately delete that feeling in words. But I hope that my choice for religion will also be respected, “Kocku added.
Born in the Netherlands, Kocku left Feyenoord at the end of the 2022/23 season and had 98 appearances for Benfica, scoring 19 goals.