Caltex Socceroos defender Aziz Behich has his sights set on Champions League football with new club İstanbul Başakşehir FK after making a “smooth transition” back into Turkish Football.
After spending last season in Holland at PSV Eindhoven, Behich has returned to Turkey where he previously played four years with Bursaspor.
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The 28-year-old is at the start of a three-year deal with Basaksehir, who finished second in the league last season and have emerged as one of the powerhouses in Turkey in recent years.
And Behich is part of a star-studded squad assembled by coach Okan Buruc, playing alongside the likes of Brazilian attacker Robinho, ex-Barcelona star Arda Turan and Premier League players like Demba Ba and Gael Clichy.
“We have a lot of high-profile names here, it’s been great being around these players,” Behich told socceroos.com.au.
“It feels like I have been here longer than I have the way they have greeted me.
“It’s great to have the likes of world-class players like Robinho, Demba Ba, Gokhan Inler…and I can name a few more.
“We’re just excited to get our Champions League campaign going, hopefully qualify and kick-off the season with a good start.”
Behich and his teammates are currently in Austria for a training camp, where they have also played a couple of pre-season friendlies against the likes of Ajax and Borussia Monchengladbach.
“We’ve been training hard, double sessions every day and training has been intense and a high standard because we know we have three competitions to play,” Behich said.
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“I’m loving being back in Turkey and at a club that over the last four, five, six years is making massive steps, obviously qualifying for Europe and just the past season missing out on the Championship in the last week,” he added.
“I’ve come to a club that has high ambitions and goals to win trophies and qualify for the Champions League.”
