Crystal Palace striker Alexander Sørloth has explained his decision to move to Turkey, citing the Eagles’ continued fight against relegation as part of the move.
The striker joined Palace in an £8m deal from FC Midtjylland in the 2018 January transfer window but struggled during his time at the club.
He managed just one goal and one assist in 20 games for the Eagles before being sent out on loan to Gent for the second half of last season.
This summer he headed to Turkey to join Trabzonspor and has flourished, again on loan, with 12 goals in 23 games for the club so far.
Swapping the Premier League for the Süper Lig is a decision some would find hard to understand, but Sørloth says he wanted more than the usual relegation battle on offer at Palace.
“My father was positive about the transfer to Turkey from the first contact. I also talked to Filip Novak,” he told Trabzonspor’s official magazine, relayed by Gazete Futbol.
“There were two other reasons for my decision. I knew that the Süper Lig was relatively balanced.
“At the end of the season, you also get the chance to present yourself in the Europa League or the Champions League.
“Another reason was the strong team and the corresponding title ambitions of Trabzonspor. In comparison, Crystal Palace is a club whose primary goal is always to stay up.”
🎙️ #AlexanderSörloth: #️⃣1️⃣1️⃣
🗣 "Doğru Zamanda, Doğru Yerdeyim!"🔴🔵 #TrabzonsporDergisi #Aralık2019 #Sayı169 pic.twitter.com/5KRWiT8uHI
— Trabzonspor Dergisi (@TSDergi) December 6, 2019
Sørloth’s absence has not been felt by Palace this season, with them currently sitting 10th in the table and two points outside the top six, a far cry from the usual relegation battle the striker says pushed him to move to Turkey.
As of yet, his permanent future has not been decided, although Trabzonspor do have an option to make his move from Crystal Palace permanent if they want.
His form would indicate that is something they could and probably should do, and he seems happy to stay, saying the Süper Lig suits his way of playing.
“I’m currently in the right place at the right time,” he added.
“I like the way football is played in Turkey. That’s exactly what I need. I prefer to incorporate my physique in the game.
“Within the game, there are numerous offensive or defensive situations that require a lot of power. For this reason, I think the Süper Lig suits me very well.”
