Neymar's Olympics Bid Could Be Arda Turan's Big Chance to Shine at Barcelona

Having largely disappointed in his debut campaign at the Camp Nou, Arda Turan will be hoping for better fortunes at Barcelona in 2016-17.

The Turkish international captain played 25 times for the Spanish league and cup double winners, but his influence on the team was minimal, and by the end of the season he struggled to play more than a minimal role as a late substitute, managing 20 minutes or so on the pitch just once in the last eight La Liga matches and being an unused sub in the Copa del Rey final.

However, he'll be targeting a more important role at the start of the new campaign and surely feeling that there's an opportunity for game time to impress, particularly with Neymar off to represent Brazil at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, which run until August 19.

Turan's struggle

Along with Aleix Vidal, Turan knew what he was getting himself into when agreeing to join Barcelona a year ago. The Catalan outfit were unable to register new players due to a transfer ban and it meant six months on the sidelines for the former Rojiblanco, training but not playing with his new team-mates and watching on as Barca soared to the top of La Liga.

The first-choice XI was largely set in stone by that point, but a long-term injury to Rafinha meant the club attempted to get Turan registered early—though they were knocked back by FIFA, despite the Spanish Football Federation backing the club's appeal.

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His debut eventually came on January 6 in the Copa, in a derby against Espanyol, while Turan picked up assists in his first two Liga matches and generally looked assured in his new role, often from an advanced central midfield position. Along with Vidal's, Turan's form quickly went downhill, and he was often overlooked from the bench in favour of Sergi Roberto or failed to impact when he was called upon to start.

Though part of the final squad for the Copa del Rey, Turan only took to the pitch once in the last four games of that competition. He played in the 7-0 drubbing of Valencia in the semi-final first leg but missed the second leg injured; the second leg of the quarters also; and he wasn't called off the bench in the final itself despite the fixture going to extra time.

Vacant spots

None of the big names in Turan's main roles—attacking central midfield or wide in the front line—are likely to leave or fall out of favour. Andres Iniesta, Ivan Rakitic, Lionel Messi and Neymar are all but permanent fixtures in Luis Enrique's XI, but importantly for Turan, all are likely to face extended summer action.

While Turan himself is at UEFA Euro 2016, Turkey are not likely to be involved for as long as Spain or Croatia, both looking good for runs deep into the tournament, and Messi has, too, reached the Copa America final with Argentina. All will be in place for pre-season, but having played between 3,500 to 4,200 minutes each last term, rest and rotation will be critical to ongoing fitness for the entirety of '16-17.

And Neymar.

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He played a massive 4,400 minutes last season for Barca and will miss the start of '16-17 while on Olympic duty. It's possible he could end his time in Rio before La Liga gets underway, given Brazil's recent finals performances, but he'll still potentially need a short break afterward and to have a pre-season, however shortened, once he arrives back to his club.

That left-sided spot in the three-man attack is going to be very much up for grabs in the early weeks of the season, and Turan must give everything to make it his.

Denis vs. Arda

He's not the only one who will be thinking the same way, though.

Questions of a potential Nolito arrival are ongoing, per Marca, and if that happens, the Turk can probably forget his chances anyway, for a more immediate rival is Denis Suarez. The Villarreal man is en route to Barca from July 1 according to Marca, and like Turan, he will be hoping to feature either from the wide areas of attack or from central midfield.

Add in a fit-again Rafinha and there will be a huge battle for minimal minutes in those four roles.

Where Turan is physical, quick-footed and adept at finding spaces between the lines, Denis is the better one-vs-one dribbler, is more inclined to attack the far post and can play clever passes from deep. They'll approach the role in different ways, but the overriding factor in determining which one gets the nod to start the season will be in how well they link with Luis Suarez.

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The centre-forward missed action in the Copa America due to injury and will be eager to get his shooting boots back on, having finished as La Liga's top scorer last term.

Find chemistry with him and create scoring chances, and Turan (or Denis) will have their place in the side during Neymar's likely absence and be the first port of call off the bench thereafter.

2016-17

All told, the upcoming season is a crucial one for the Turkish attacker.

He turns 30 midway through '16-17; he managed just three 90-minute games for Barca last term; and, as a result of not being registered at the start of the campaign, he has played barely more than 1,000 minutes of club football in what will be 15 months by the time the season starts.

In addition, he drew stinging criticism from Turkish fans for his performances at Euro 2016, being booed during the defeat to Spain and reacting by giving the jeering supporters a sarcastic thumbs-up.

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After what should have been a big step up for him, there's no doubt that '15-16 ended up as a down year in his career, but it needn't be the start of a trend in that direction.

For several seasons, he bossed La Liga thanks to a combination of technical excellence and determined aggression, traits that appealed hugely to Luis Enrique and that will see Turan impress once more if he rediscovers his form.

He'll need to do so fast, though, as chances to impress in the Barcelona first team don't come around too regularly. The start of the season and a probable gap in the XI is his big opportunity; start fast and he'll become one of Lucho's trusted options in a range of roles. Fail to make the most of the chance, and it'll be another long and difficult campaign on the fringes.

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