For young Altınordu FK players the day starts with farming before football. At the Academy where Çağlar Söyüncü forged his “warrior spirit” they pride themselves on producing rounded citizens as well as some of the biggest prospects in European football.

While English youngsters learn their trade cleaning boots, at the Metin Oktay grounds in İzmir, on the west coast of Turkey, there is a hencoop, sheep, a goat and two cows.

“They learn that Avocado is not an Italian footballer,” says agent Ömer Uzun, who worked on Söyüncü’s deal to SC Frieberg from Altınordu. “It is not only a football club, when the kids wake up they all have duties like getting the eggs or milking the cow. They are teaching them life.

“It is compulsory and they are being taught to be a human being, a good person and a good footballer. If you don’t become a footballer, they teach life.”

Söyüncü has stood out since arriving at Leicester at the start of last season. And it is not just the long hair and fearless dribbling, sometimes in his own penalty area, that sets him apart. His upbringing is like no other player in the Premier League either.

The 23 year-old has Wembley in his sights on Wednesday night when he faces Aston Villa. Playing in big cup finals was his dream growing up as part of a project that is reaping rewards now.