Enes Ünal says his World Cup dream with Türkiye is shaping his Bournemouth future, stressing the need for regular minutes. He admits his situation isn’t easy, with injuries disrupting his spell, and suggests upcoming decisions will focus on staying in national team contention.
AFC Bournemouth striker Enes Ünal has offered a candid insight into his future at the Vitality Stadium after appearing on the Youtube channel of Anadolu Agency, the state-run official news agency of Türkiye, admitting that his dream of representing Türkiye at the World Cup is shaping his thinking.
In the interview, Ünal spoke openly about the pride he feels pulling on the national shirt, describing it as a driving force in his career.
"The World Cup is, of course, the pinnacle of football. The highest place a player can reach—especially emotionally for me. Because you represent your country, your national team".
The 27-year-old made it clear that with the World Cup firmly in his sights, maintaining a strong position within the national setup is now a key priority. As it stands, Türkiye are one game away from qualifying, with a decisive play-off final to play against Kosovo.
Unal's ambition, he suggested, is closely tied to his club situation, where he emphasised the importance of regular minutes and consistent performances at Bournemouth, acknowledging that these factors could influence his next steps.
"Is it easy? Honestly, no. I don't need to lie. My situation has been clear for a long time. I'll have peace of mind. Let me put it this way. I'm trying to do more than I can. I'm trying to get as much playing time as possible to get in shape. But the World Cup is so important to me. In the remaining matches [for Bournemouth], I want to do my best, get more time, and be at the World Cup"
While he did not explicitly state a desire to leave Bournemouth, his comments indicate that his immediate future at the Vitality Stadium is under consideration.
The video shows him and his English-speaking partner wife Lisa in different locations across BCP, including Sandbanks beach, the AFC Bournemouth Performance Centre, and Vitality Stadium itself, where the Cherries number 26 spoke of his pride at playing in the Premier League.
"Being in the Premier League as a Turkish footballer, being a part of this competition, is really important and enjoyable, it's an honor. The Premier League, like the NBA, is the pinnacle of football for me, really. I can say this clearly after seeing and experiencing many different leagues."
Enes's stint at AFC Bournemouth has been defined by a cruel streak of injuries that have repeatedly derailed what promised to be a productive spell in the Premier League.
After joining permanently in the summer of 2024 following a successful loan, the Turkish striker suffered a broken toe that sidelined him for more than three months at the start of the 2024/25 campaign. Then, in January 2025, disaster struck again when he tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in training—his second ACL injury in little over a year—forcing him to miss the rest of the season and endure nearly 300 days on the sidelines.
Having fought his way back and even scored on his long-awaited return in late 2025, Ünal was felled once more in January 2026 by a right adductor muscle injury that kept him out for several weeks. The catalogue of setbacks has left him with far fewer appearances than anticipated, testing both his mental resilience and Bournemouth’s attacking options at the most inopportune moments.
He said: "An ACL injury is very difficult. As they say, only those who experience it know- it’s really true. The pain, the struggle, trying to regain your old form. But I didn’t give up."
He did however hint that any decisions over the coming months will be guided by what gives him the best chance of remaining in Türkiye’s plans. It underlined a familiar dilemma faced by international players — balancing club commitments with the demands and aspirations of international football.
As both club and country campaigns intensify towards the end of the season, Ünal’s situation is likely to remain a developing story, particularly if opportunities or competition for places begin to shift in the months ahead.