Besiktas President Fikret Orman has dismissed reports linking the Black Eagles with a move for Liverpool’s Mario Balotelli.
Orman made it clear that he does not want to sign any players who could potentially cause unrest within the squad and went onto say that no offer has been made. Balotelli joined Liverpool for £16 million (Express) back in 2014 but has been told by manager the Reds boss Jurgen Klopp to find a new club.
“Balotelli is a troublemaker and our manager does not have a high opinion of him either,” Orman was quoted as saying by Turkish-Football at Adriano’s signing ceremony.
“We do not want to sign him and the rumours could not be further from the truth. We discussed the matter internally and decided not to make a move for him.”
Besiktas manager Senol Gunes also recently poured cold water on speculation linking his side with Balotelli.
“Balotelli isn’t in my plans either. I don’t have a favourable view of Mario Balotelli. I have never expressed a positive insight on him,” Gunes told FourFourTwo.
Balotelli looks set to leave Liverpool after the Reds boss Jurgen Klopp omitted him from Liverpool’s pre-season squad this summer.
The Black Eagles are on the lookout for a new striker after last seasons top scorer Mario Gomez left the club following a successful loan spell last season.
Besiktas won the Turkish Super League title last season, booking a place in the UEFA Champions League group stage in the process.