FENERBAHÇE CHANGED ITS DESTINY
The doors of Fenerbahçe were opened to Vargas, who attracted attention with his performance, in 2018. Vargas, who was transferred to Fenerbahçe with the intense efforts of club president Ali Koç and volleyball manager Simla Türker Bayazıt, entered Turkey on this occasion.
Female manager Simla Türker Bayazıt, who played a major role in Vargas’s arrival to Turkey, said that this transfer was “Fenerbahçe’s gift to Turkish volleyball”. It happened just as she said. He won the hearts of not only those interested in volleyball but also the whole of Turkey.
PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN INVOLVED AND MELissa VARGAS BECAME A TR CITIZEN
Vargas’ journey to success with the national team started in 2021 with the citizenship card he received from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Melissa Vargas suddenly attracted the attention of the whole Europe with her performance in Fenerbahçe at the age of 19.
Zoran Terzic, who was his coach at Fenerbahçe at the time, wanted to bring Vargas to his country, especially since he also coached the Serbian National Team.
Turkish Volleyball Federation President Mehmet Akif Üstündağ saw Vargas’ potential and made an effort to have the player wear the star and crescent jersey.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stepped in for the Cuban-born player, who was about to sign with Serbia, and with his great contribution, Melissa Vargas became a citizen of the Republic of Turkey.
When the identity right, which was received from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on April 10, 2021, expired for 2 years, the national team that made history after history started its story.
HE WAITED FOR TWO YEARS, AND REACHED THE TOP WITH THE NATIONAL TEAM
Melissa Vargas could not play in the national team for 2 years after her citizenship due to status.
Melissa Vargas, who received the crescent-star jersey on the 100th anniversary of the Republic when the time expired, was one of the names that led Turkey to victory in the FIVB Nations League. With his performance in the European Championship, Vargas became the “Most Valuable Player” (MVP) and led the “Sultans of the Net” to the championship for the first time.
‘VARGAS AIRLINES’ INCREASES 3 METERS TO 26 CENTIMETERS
Vargas, who rose to 3 meters 26 centimeters with his dunks, was nicknamed “Vargas Airlines” by the Turkish people.
“LIKE ONE OF US, 41 TIMES MASHALLAH”
Vargas showed a great performance with 41 points against Serbia in the European Championship final match. The 41st point was the last point in the championship. As TRT Announcer Mehmet Sevinç, who described the match, said in the match number, Vargas made him say ‘Mashallah’ 41 times.
JERSEY NUMBER MALATYA’S PLATE NUMBER
The reason why Vargas wears jersey number 44 is that Federation President Mehmet Akif Üstündağ is from Malatya. Pointing out that Vargas wears Malatya’s license plate number 44, Üstündağ said, “Vargas became our son. He wears number 44 in the team and says ‘I am from Malatya too’. 44 became his lucky number.”