Can Bartu was a graceful inside-forward and one of the most cultured Turkish footballers of his era, revered at Fenerbahçe before an unusual move to Italy, where he played for Venezia, Fiorentina and Lazio. A rare all-round sportsman, he had also excelled at basketball before committing fully to football.
Elegant on the ball and intelligent in his movement, he became a symbol of technical sophistication in Turkish football and remained a beloved figure at Fenerbahçe long after his playing days.