Former Fenerbahce, Napoli midfielder Eljif Elmas dreaming to play at World Cup finals

By Yasin Tuncer

ANTALYA, Türkiye (AA) - Eljif Elmas, a former Fenerbahce and Napoli midfielder, told Anadolu that he has been dreaming of playing in the FIFA World Cup finals to make a splash.

"We made a name for ourselves by qualifying for the 2020 European Football Championship (EURO 2020) and we want to continue this," Elmas, German Bundesliga team RB Leipzig's North Macedonian midfielder, said on Thursday.

Elmas, 24, is at North Macedonian national team's tour to prepare for their international friendlies in the Turkish Mediterranean province of Antalya.

"My goal for the national team are to participate in the European Championship once again. I have a dream to play in a (FIFA) World Cup with North Macedonia."

North Macedonia was part of Yugoslavia before it became a FIFA and UEFA member in 1994. But they have never played at a World Cup from 1998 to 2022.

However, North Macedonia qualified for the pan-European football championship EURO 2020 to make a sensation but they were eliminated at the group stage after losing to the Netherlands, Ukraine, and Austria.

Elmas played for his nation regularly in this tournament.

But North Macedonia failed to make the EURO 2024 finals that will start in Germany in June. They were eliminated in a competitive qualifying group that England and defending champions Italy were the best two teams to book their places each at this summer's championship.

Stating that it is more difficult to find players for the North Macedonia national team than Türkiye, Elmas said: "I think we will achieve good things as the North Macedonia National Team in the coming years. North Macedonia is not a country of 80 million like Türkiye. We have only 1.5 million inhabitants."

- Failed to play for Türkiye's national team

Elmas said there was a possibility he could have played for the Turkish national team in 2017 but was called up by North Macedonia for national duty.

"On June 5, 2017 in Skopje, Türkiye had a match with North Macedonia that ended 0-0. Before that, Fatih Terim (Türkiye's head coach) wanted me for Turkish national team but it didn't happen. I was then called to the North Macedonia national team squad. Then I was sent to the Under-21 Team. On June 11, I wore the North Macedonia jersey for the first time."

Elmas amassed 58 caps to score 12 goals for his country since his North Macedonia debut in 2017.

He added that if he had not accepted North Macedonia's offer, he would have been banned from playing abroad for two years.

Elmas was born in Skopje but he said he has relatives still in Türkiye.

His family moved to Macedonia when it was under the Ottoman Empire rule.

- 'I was successful with Napoli'

Elmas expressed that he was successful with his former team Napoli.

"I had a successful period in Napoli, even if I was sometimes a substitute. I was the third player with the most assists and goals after (Victor) Osimhen and Khvicha (Kvaratskhelia). I shared the joy of Serie A championship after 33 years in Napoli. We also won the Italian Cup."

Eljif noted that he preferred to join Leipzig because he wanted a team where he could play in the starting 11 all the time.

"Leipzig is a team that gives young players a chance. Now I am adapting to German football. Next year, you can watch a fully fit Eljif Elmas." he said.

Elmas had played for Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahce in 2017-2019, and was regarded as one of the promising players before his big move to Napoli.

The Italian club paid €16 million ($17.9 million) transfer fee to buy him from Fenerbahce.

During his time at Napoli, Elmas won a historic Italian Serie A title, and an Italian Cup. He scored 19 goals and made 11 assists in 189 matches for Napoli.

He has been playing for Leipzig since January, and has a contract with the German club until 2028.

* Writing by Selcuk Bugra Gokalp and Can Erozden.