Fenerbahçe's Local Talent Benched Under Mourinho's Orders

Several Fenerbahçe homegrown players, including Oğuz Aydın, Yusuf Akçiçek, and İsmail Yüksek, have recently found themselves out of the starting lineup. İrfan Can Kahveci, as has been the case for much of the season, has also been relegated to the bench.

Oğuz Aydın and Yusuf Akçiçek emerged as breakout stars for Fenerbahçe this season. After a period of limited playing time, Mourinho unexpectedly brought Aydın into the starting eleven. The 24-year-old's impressive form subsequently earned him a call-up to the national team.

Yusuf Akçiçek, meanwhile, was plucked from the youth academy by the experienced manager and nurtured into a first-team regular. The 19-year-old also made his debut for the national team. However, in recent weeks, both players have fallen out of favor. Following Fenerbahçe's cup elimination against Galatasaray, Akçiçek hasn't seen a single minute of action in three matches. Aydın has been limited to late substitute appearances.

İsmail Yüksek, another player who enjoyed significant playing time earlier this season, has also felt Mourinho's wrath. Since returning from injury, the national team player has been largely overlooked. The 26-year-old has played just 30 minutes across three of the six league matches in 2025 in which he was available. İrfan Can Kahveci, meanwhile, continues to languish on the bench, a recurring theme throughout the season.