Sports · Football · 6 hrs ago
Kerem Demirbay says he regrets choosing Germany over Turkey
Kerem Demirbay says he wanted to play for Turkey, but chose Germany because of circumstances he has not discussed.
The midfielder was called up by Germany coach Joachim Löw in 2017 and earned two caps, scoring against Cameroon at the Confederations Cup.
Demirbay believes a tattoo of Turkey’s map changed how he was viewed after the goal, though he did not take off his shirt while celebrating.
He says Germany never called him up again and that he was left out of the 2018 World Cup squad, when competition for midfield places was strong.
He now says he would not play for Germany again, and that his biggest regret is never wearing Turkey’s shirt.
In a 2025 interview, however, he said he stood by his decisions and wished he had played for Germany more often; he now plays regularly for Kasımpaşa in Turkey’s Süper Lig.
Kerem Demirbay says his biggest regret is never having played for Turkey’s national team.
The midfielder says he would not play for Germany again, despite being called up in 2017.
He believes a tattoo depicting Turkey’s borders changed how he was viewed and led to him never being called up again.
Demirbay made two appearances for Germany and scored against Cameroon at the 2017 Confederations Cup.
He was left out of Germany’s 2018 World Cup squad.
- Who
- Kerem Demirbay, a midfielder for Kasımpaşa and former Germany international.
- What
- He says he regrets choosing Germany over Turkey and would not play for Germany again.
- When
- He shared his views in an interview reported on October 19, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- He says he had wanted to represent Turkey and believes a tattoo of Turkey’s borders affected his Germany career.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Germany coach Joachim Löw called Demirbay up to the national team.
Demirbay made his Germany debut in a friendly against Denmark.
Demirbay scored against Cameroon in his only appearance at the tournament.
Demirbay was left out of Germany’s World Cup squad.
Demirbay said he stood by his decisions but might have decided differently with the experience of playing in a Turkish stadium.
Articles reported Demirbay’s renewed regret over choosing Germany.
- Germany caps
- 2
- Confederations Cup goal
- Against Cameroon in 2017
- Germany World Cup squad
- Demirbay was omitted from the 2018 squad
- Current club
- Kasımpaşa
- Turkey tattoo
- An outline of Turkey’s borders on his shoulder, according to the articles
3 sources
What people are saying
My biggest regret will always be never having worn the Turkish national team shirt.
I would never play for Germany again, even if they called me now.
I wanted to play for Turkey. We courted the federation for a year and a half.
After that, I was never called up again.