Black Eagles boost back line with Ferrari arrival
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Temmuz 09, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Beşiktaş fans celebrate the arrival of Matteo Ferrari, the team’s first foreign signing during the current transfer window, hoping the Italian will anchor the team’s defense. However, the Istanbul club has to send Tomas Zapotocny to stave off foreign player limitations.
The purchase of defender Matteo Ferrari has been the only highlight in an otherwise silent week for double-trophy-winning side Beşiktaş.
Hoping to successfully defend its Turkcell Super League title, Beşiktaş landed Italian defender Ferrari from Genoa on a fee believed to be between 5 million and 6 million euros.
Ferrari became Beşiktaş’s first foreign purchase for the current transfer window, increasing the team’s total number of international players to nine. Due to the league regulations, clubs can have only eight foreign players in their squads, using a maximum of six on the pitch at the same time.
Beşiktaş is reported to send Czech defender Tomas Zapotocny to another Turkcell Super League club in order to keep in line with foreign player regulations. Kasımpaşa and Gaziantepspor are said to be interested in Zapotocny.
Ferrari’s transfer to Turkey could not be finalized before the player’s girlfriend Aida Yespica agreed on the move to Istanbul. And the Venezuelan model only said yes after she landed a television show deal with a Turkish channel, Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport reported.
Ferrari, who was born in Algeria and whose mother is Guinean, has been capped 11 times by Italy, although the last of those came in 2004.
The center back had been at Genoa for only a year after moving from Roma, where he was forced to play a back-up role to defenders Philippe Mexes and Juan.
Ferrari said that he was excited about the prospect of playing in front of the Beşiktaş faithful.
"I am aware of the Beşiktaş fans’ reputation," the defender told BJK TV, the official television channel of the club. "I am excited about playing for them. It will be great to play in such atmosphere."
The Black Eagles have also purchased their former player Nihat Kahveci, who enjoyed seven successful years at Spanish clubs Real Sociedad and Villarreal. Ankaraspor’s defender Erhan Güven, Gaziantepspor’s promising left back İsmail Köybaşı and Karşıyaka right back Rıdvan Şimşek were the other additions to the Beşiktaş squad.
Ferrari’s arrival is good news for Beşiktaş supporters and the Turkish media, who are both for big fans of wordplays. The defender said that he was happy to carry a surname that is one of the biggest brands in the motoring world.
"Yes, I carry a fast surname on my shoulders," said Ferrari, smiling. "It is not always easy to carry it duly."
Hoping to successfully defend its Turkcell Super League title, Beşiktaş landed Italian defender Ferrari from Genoa on a fee believed to be between 5 million and 6 million euros.
Ferrari became Beşiktaş’s first foreign purchase for the current transfer window, increasing the team’s total number of international players to nine. Due to the league regulations, clubs can have only eight foreign players in their squads, using a maximum of six on the pitch at the same time.
Beşiktaş is reported to send Czech defender Tomas Zapotocny to another Turkcell Super League club in order to keep in line with foreign player regulations. Kasımpaşa and Gaziantepspor are said to be interested in Zapotocny.
Ferrari’s transfer to Turkey could not be finalized before the player’s girlfriend Aida Yespica agreed on the move to Istanbul. And the Venezuelan model only said yes after she landed a television show deal with a Turkish channel, Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport reported.
Ferrari, who was born in Algeria and whose mother is Guinean, has been capped 11 times by Italy, although the last of those came in 2004.
The center back had been at Genoa for only a year after moving from Roma, where he was forced to play a back-up role to defenders Philippe Mexes and Juan.
Ferrari said that he was excited about the prospect of playing in front of the Beşiktaş faithful.
"I am aware of the Beşiktaş fans’ reputation," the defender told BJK TV, the official television channel of the club. "I am excited about playing for them. It will be great to play in such atmosphere."
The Black Eagles have also purchased their former player Nihat Kahveci, who enjoyed seven successful years at Spanish clubs Real Sociedad and Villarreal. Ankaraspor’s defender Erhan Güven, Gaziantepspor’s promising left back İsmail Köybaşı and Karşıyaka right back Rıdvan Şimşek were the other additions to the Beşiktaş squad.
Ferrari’s arrival is good news for Beşiktaş supporters and the Turkish media, who are both for big fans of wordplays. The defender said that he was happy to carry a surname that is one of the biggest brands in the motoring world.
"Yes, I carry a fast surname on my shoulders," said Ferrari, smiling. "It is not always easy to carry it duly."