Beşiktaş Soccer Director önder özen: "We've stepped away from the Salah transfer for now"

Beşiktaş Soccer Director Önder Özen made statements regarding the club’s transfer plans and Mohammed Salah at a press conference.

"OUR FIRST MOVE IS ITALIANO"

Noting that there were matters they wanted to clarify regarding the Salah transfer, Önder Özen stated, “For some time now, there has been a lot of buzz surrounding Mohammed Salah. The issue has been the subject of excessive speculation from every angle. There are certain matters regarding him that we want to clarify.”

Önder Özen, who said that their first target upon taking office was Vincenzo Italiano, continued with the following remarks:

“Normally, when soccer teams prepare for a season, there’s a technical planning process. We began this planning as soon as we took office. Our first move was Vincenzo Italiano. Twenty minutes after the signing ceremony on June 6, we began negotiations with Alexander Nübel. We’ve divided the transfer process into three phases. In the first phase, we focused entirely on addressing our needs. We’ve completed that first phase. In the second phase, we aim to strengthen the roster as much as possible. We’ve set a target for ourselves by the 15th of the month. Our final phase, running through September 4, will involve evaluating potential transfer opportunities.”

"WE HAD THREE MEETINGS"

Önder Özen, noting that they had met with Salah a total of three times, said, “We reached out to Salah. This also involved a financing model. Salah is a global star and a respected athlete. We met with Salah three times without delving into the financial aspects of the negotiations. Everything was going smoothly up to that point. Once the financial discussions began, the smooth progress seen on the first day started to slow down as of July 21. Requests began to emerge that would bring both the flow of information and the financial side to a standstill. I can assume that a respected athlete like Salah was unaware of this," he said.

Önder Özen, who stated that they had walked away from the table for now in light of these demands, continued:

“The club has a policy, and it cannot deviate from that policy. Our President identified the line he would not cross very clearly and stood his ground. Management is a legal business; there is a legally established commission rate, and exceeding that would constitute an illegal situation. When it comes to Beşiktaş, avoiding such a situation is a requirement of being a Beşiktaş supporter. The President, by not making a populist decision, has ‘stepped away from the table for now.’”

"THERE WILL BE NO OTHER OFFER"

Stating that no other offer will be made to Mohammed Salah, Önder Özen said, “I have no chance to say yes or no. Beşiktaş’s offer, made on its own terms, is on the table. If a response to this offer comes, it can be evaluated. But Beşiktaş will not make another offer. They’ve said they’re in talks with another club as well; perhaps they’ll reach an agreement there. Our final offer to Salah is the last word—one that doesn’t compromise Beşiktaş’s club identity.”

"WE’D LIKE TO EVALUATE VLAHOVIC"

Speaking about the Dusan Vlahovic transfer, Önder Özen continued:

"Regarding Dusan Vlahovic, since he is a free agent, the ball is in his court. If he prefers one of the five major leagues, Turkey isn’t among them. If an opportunity arises for Vlahovic, we’d like to evaluate it as a club. He spent his career-defining season with Vincenzo Italiano. The coach speaks with him from time to time. He has great respect for the coach as well. He certainly wants to work with him again. But players’ priorities are not about choosing a coach—they’re about choosing their contracts. I suspect Vlahovic is expecting a major contract. I imagine he’ll want to play for a team competing in the Champions League."

PLAYERS SET TO LEAVE

Finally, speaking about the players who will be leaving the team, Önder Özen concluded his remarks with the following words:

“Onana, Elan Ricardo, and Joao Mario are training separately from the team. I spoke with Felix Uduokhai. I told him we wouldn’t be keeping him on the roster. There was a snag with Schalke, but he’s continuing talks with other Bundesliga clubs. I also spoke with Amir Hadziahmetovic. Several clubs seem interested. If the conditions are right, we’ll part ways. Cruzeiro was interested in Musrati, but the player said he couldn’t live in that city. He’ll look for another club. There have been no developments regarding Onana. Joao Mario didn’t have a bad season. He’ll receive offers. Elan Ricardo is returning soon. Perhaps we’ll help him find a club in Turkey.”