Arda Turan Jokes That Barcelona Players Are Scared He'll Throw a Shoe at Them

Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan has revealed his new team-mates have avoided pulling any prank initiations because they are afraid he will throw a shoe at them.

Turan joined Barca from Atletico Madrid in July 2015 but had to wait until January 7 to make his debut as a result of the club's two-window ban on registering new players.

It was at Atleti last season that the Turkish midfielder attracted controversy by throwing his boot at a linesman in protest against a decision, an incident his new colleagues clearly haven't forgotten.

"

Arda Turan says in Barca dressing room, "nobody makes jokes at me because they're afraid I'll throw shoes at them." https://t.co/lnV7M8raQp

— Paddy Power (@paddypower) January 21, 2016"

"They haven’t done any hazing because they’re scared I’ll throw a shoe at them," he told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, to a chorus of laughs.

"

Turan: "I suffered some joke when joining Barça? No, they didn't dare. They're afraid I'd throw a shoe at them... (laughs)" [ser]

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) January 20, 2016"

Frightened team-mates aside, Turan has made a positive start to life in a Barca shirt, providing two assists in his five appearances to date.

[Twitter, h/t Cadena Ser]