Beşiktaş President Serdal Adalı will stick to the "plan"

Speaking at a press conference held at Tüpraş Stadium, Adalı stated that the transfers made under previous administrations had placed a significant burden on the club. He added that they were forced to spend their existing resources on past costs as well as new transfers.

"We don't have the luxury of making new mistakes in transfers," said Adalı, adding that past transfers have placed a heavy burden on them.

We paid €16-17 million for former players like Aboubakar, Amartey, Montero, Rebic, Joe Worral, Umut Meraş, and Onur Bulut. Additionally, last week, a lawsuit was finalized against our club regarding the unpaid agent fees of many players from previous years. We will be paying over 80 million lira in the coming days for the agent fees of many players like Boyko, Utku Yuvakuran, Caner Erkin, Atınç Nukan, and Pepe. Therefore, we are constantly moving forward not only by planning for the present but also by clearing away past years. In other words, the resources we have painstakingly strived to build are not only for our present and future, but unfortunately, we are also forced to use them for the past. We are trying to create some leeway in foreign player transfers by parting ways with players we previously transferred and who we didn't consider for our squad. Past wrong transfers have created a significant burden and have affected our future decisions. We cannot afford to make wrong transfers. Unfortunately, we no longer have that right.

He evaluated the new transfers

Adalı said that everyone will see in the coming days that they have acquired the right players and continued:

"All four of our signings so far have proven to be the right fit, with their quality, previous teams, careers, and character. As the season progresses, we'll all see that we've acquired the right players. David Jurasek, who plays for the Czech National Team, transferred to Benfica, a major European football club, for a high transfer fee, and has Bundesliga experience. He's a very valuable player at just 24 years old. We added him to our squad without paying any loan fee. There's no mandatory purchase option. Tammy Abraham's quality is undeniable; he's a centre-forward for the English National Team. He's played for major European clubs like Chelsea and Roma, who have won international trophies. He's only 27 years old. His commitment to Beşiktaş and the contribution he can make have been clear since the day he arrived. He will be a great asset to Beşiktaş. Orkun Kökçü is much more than just a player for us. The stance he displayed during the transfer process, the Beşiktaş fandom he expresses at every opportunity, his character, his stance, his footballing style, everything about him. He's a son of Beşiktaş, whom we love dearly. We were fortunate enough to make his dream, and that of all Beşiktaş fans, come true, and have Orkun wear the Beşiktaş jersey. We are very happy about this. Orkun will become a Beşiktaş legend, win trophies and championships with Beşiktaş, and take his place in Beşiktaş history. Wilfried Ndidi, on the other hand, has played countless matches in England for Leicester City, has become one of his team's symbolic players, and is a symbol of consistency. He will fill the void our fans have felt in that region for years after Atiba, and he will be a great asset to Beşiktaş.

Serdal Adalı, stating that Beşiktaş will benefit from its new signings for many years to come, said, "These players can bring Beşiktaş much more than their cost. The status of the players we've acquired is clear. Just as we've brought in players so far, we will continue to focus on players of the same profile and quality. If a player arrives who is 32 or 33 years old, we won't sign them on a free transfer. They'll come in, play for one year, and contribute directly. We can benefit from these players without ever signing a contract longer than one year."

"Our community will have to be a little patient to avoid making the same mistakes and going through the same processes."

Adalı, noting that the Black and Whites still need reinforcements and asking for patience from their fans, said, "If I wanted to get applause, I would have filled in players aged 30-35 like they did in previous years, completed the transfers long ago, and fielded that squad for the Shakhtar match. I would have completed the transfers on July 10th, but it would have served no purpose other than saving today. I also witnessed the Super Cup match in August last season, where we scored five goals, and then I experienced firsthand how we finished that season. Our club will have to be a little patient to avoid making the same mistakes and going through the same process. We are striving to quickly correct the mistakes made in the past five years. We must continue to move forward without making any mistakes."

Adalı, stating that they are aware of the kind of squad they need to build for the league title, said, "Look at our recent championships. We've always had Tayfur, Ernst, Atiba, and Josef at the number six position. So, we've always had combative midfielders and number eights with better ball skills and better passing quality. Over the last four years, we've always tried something different. We've gone to many softer number sixes like Musrati and Pjanic. We've had many players brought into the midfield. None of them may have been bad players, but almost all of them were brought in just for the sake of adding a midfielder, without any particular footballing acumen. These practices have never brought us good results. We're trying to fundamentally change this with top-quality players. If you look at our current midfield setup, you'll see how similar the trio of Ndidi, Orkun, and Rafa are to the midfield setup we had in our championship seasons. Demir Ege and Kartal are also starting to get playing time, and they'll continue to get significant playing time and contribute significantly to our team."

"We are trying to bring in players who fit our system and contribute to the kind of football we want to play."

Adalı noted that the transfers were made according to a specific plan and organization, and continued:

We won't bring anyone into this team just to acquire a left winger. We're trying to acquire players who fit our system and contribute to the style of football we want to play. We'll address all remaining shortcomings with this philosophy. I believe we'll see results on the pitch. We'll complete the remaining signings with players who fit our envisioned team structure. Our primary transfer targets are left wingers and right backs. If there are opportunities for other positions, we can consider them. Furthermore, the players we've signed this season have been perceived as a change from last season's scouting transfer policy. There's no change in our strategy. First, we'll complete the team's structure and make it competitive. Then, we'll focus on young players. Our plans are ready. We'll first sign players who will maintain our ambition.

Adalı, stating that Marcus Rashford had never been on their agenda, said, "We were never interested in Rashford, but there was a lot of talk about him. What happened was that the player eventually went to Barcelona. But the players we were planning to part ways with saw the Rashford news and raised their demands. Then, the people who made these claims started criticizing us with headlines like 'They wanted Rashford, but they didn't get him.'"

Adalı stated that they will carry out transfer operations as they believe in, despite all pressure, saying, "Beşiktaş's interests are far more important than any criticism we may receive. We will accept any personal criticism, but we will never sign anything that will create an unnecessary burden for Beşiktaş, no matter what."

"Let's finish the transfers first, see our team in its ideal form, and then judge the coach."

Speaking about coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Serdal Adalı said:

"We've made a projection since the day we took office. Based on this, we've decided he's the most suitable coach. We stand by our decision. I'm incredibly shocked by the criticism. They're even considering firing a coach before we even play our first league match. I've never seen such a perception management operation anywhere in the world. We're aware that we couldn't get Beşiktaş to play as we wanted in the Shakhtar match. We've discussed the reasons and solutions among ourselves, and we're taking the necessary steps. Everything from the coach's play choices to his substitutions has been open to discussion, but we're still at the beginning of the season and have a long way to go. There will be occasional defeats and undesirable consequences along the way. We can't experience such chaos every time we drop a point. I'm one of those who know best how sensible Beşiktaş fans are and how they support their team in difficult times. There are circles that do this intentionally. If you want to criticize, criticize. We're open to any helpful criticism. Criticize me. You might say the transfers are delayed. Let's finish the transfers first, see our team in its ideal form, and then we can appoint the coach." Let's judge. The coach, being polite, doesn't just say, 'This is the squad I have, this is what I'm doing with what I have.' There's no point in being so unfair to the coach. As I've said before, I met with both domestic and international coaches last winter. No one had the courage to take on this role under the circumstances of the time. Ole came in and tried to do something. He brought excitement. We'll give the coach some time. While the team was far from its goals and the desired roster structure, and was at a psychological and mental low point, the coach who stepped up and didn't shy away from the task will certainly be credited. Once we complete our transfers, the ball will be in the coach's court. We will expect a team that competes the way we want and plays a great team game from him.

Adalı, stating that they will think twice before taking a step, said, "Look at our past and objectively evaluate each time this transfer performance was displayed for this day of the year. If a team framework had been established over the past four years, four transfers for the starting eleven would have been sufficient not only for this period but for the entire transfer window. Let's not forget that Ghezzal and Rosier, who won us the championship, joined this team just as the transfer window was closing. Mario Gomez scored his first goal in mid-September. Talisca signed with Beşiktaş on August 24th, and Aboubakar on August 29th. Our rivals are experiencing similar situations. For example, Osimhen joined the Galatasaray squad on September 4th last season and made his league debut in the fourth week of the league. We're only at August 11th, and I want to remind you that we've added four top-tier players who will directly contribute to our starting eleven. Don't forget that some transfers either require huge fees or "Or you have to wait for the right time and opportunities."

The club's president, who also posted a message on social media, said, "These are extensions of those who have been making these transfers for five years. I understand them. They're trying to cover up the mistakes they made and make people forget what happened, but no matter what you do, Beşiktaş history will always remember you. It will not easily forget the disgrace you've inflicted on this community."

Adalı also noted significant developments in the youth academy, noting improvements in numerous areas. Adalı noted that they had appointed manager Serdar Topraktepe as head of youth development. Serdal Adalı emphasized that they had formed an advisory board comprised of former players, saying, "All applications have been submitted for the 100-acre plot of land near the new airport. We hope to begin construction on this land as soon as possible. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of players from the youth academy will be transferred to the youth academy and used to train new athletes."

The club's president, noting that every negative result prompts calls for someone to leave, said, "Every defeat, even the slightest incident, creates the perception that the players, the coach, and even the board must leave. Are we going to take the field with brand new players and a completely different coach every two months? If we're to believe these perceptions, we should also hold new elections every two months. It's been proven time and again that these things aren't beneficial for Beşiktaş."

Adalı stated that they will not allow insults to be directed at players and their families on social media, saying, "Both the players on the team and all the names we're focusing on, both domestic and foreign, and their families, are following this news and are being negatively affected. These kids are entrusted to us as long as they wear our jersey. We will make them feel that Beşiktaş is their home. We will do whatever is necessary to protect them properly and to show the necessary stance against these social media bullies. I will fight them to the end, everyone should know that. Beşiktaş will not leave the field to these social media thugs."

Adalı, noting that the refereeing debate began in the first week of the league, said, "Our greatest wish is for a season where referees don't overshadow the football. This league will continue with these referees. Mistakes are human, and there will be refereeing errors from now on, but no one can explain why these mistakes consistently favor or disadvantage certain teams. When making decisions, referees should remember that our fans come to the game with the money they've saved, and that our management is doing everything in their power. We sign players for significant amounts of money. Their decisions affect a community of 20 million people. Our colleagues at the federation say they're restructuring at the Central Refereeing Board (MHK) and will be even better this year. Hopefully, that will be the case. We will be following the hard work Beşiktaş puts into the pitch."

Providing information about the Obelisk Project, Adalı said:

The Dikilitaş Project is progressing as planned. We are progressing in stages. First, as mentioned, a protocol has been signed with Emlak Konut, making the matter official. The project is complete. We are also in the process of obtaining the necessary permits from the relevant government agencies. I would like to thank President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Murat Kurum, who have supported us from the very beginning of the project. Ziraat Bank, which we previously indicated we would be considering for participation in the project, will likely remain outside the project. Therefore, we have quickly initiated discussions with real estate investment partnerships of other state-owned banks. It will be completed soon. The Dikilitaş Project and similar projects we will develop in the future will significantly contribute to both paying off our club's debts and building the team rosters we desire in the coming period.

"It is important that the football player wants to come first"

Speaking about Jadon Sancho, Adalı said, "I really want him, too, but the player's decision to come to Türkiye is crucial. We don't have the luxury of buying everything we want with a ridiculous amount of money. This issue has been on the agenda for a month and a half. We'll do everything we can, but it's important that the player wants to come first. We're not trying to force anyone to come to Beşiktaş. We'll work hard to meet every condition. Players generally prefer teams in the Champions League. It's not right to say right now that it will happen or not. If it's possible, we'll take him and come."

Adalı stated that English footballer Alex Oxlade Chamberlain's negative comments about the team were a factor in the Kyle Walker-Peters transfer not happening, saying, "There were two separate factors in the Peters transfer. One was Chamberlain's negative comments about the team. After the delays from the players' side, at the last minute, it came to a point where I didn't want to go to Türkiye. I know the reasons. We have no intention of compromising Beşiktaş's principles. We would bring in someone who said they didn't want to come, even if it meant forcing money, but it's debatable how useful a player with that mindset would be."

Adalı noted that Demir Ege's return to Beşiktaş was an important reason for Mahmudu Bajo's transfer being abandoned, and added that they had also met with Rıdvan Yılmaz, but there was no official situation.

President Adalı stated that he understands the fans' fear and anxiety, explaining that they are taking great precautions. "Players who understand the seriousness of the situation will be coming. Our fans should rest assured. They should also be patient. The shortcomings will be addressed, and Beşiktaş will be a completely different team. They shouldn't be fooled by the social media hype. We are trying to build a team they will enjoy watching," he said.

"I won't send anyone away after paying for them, I'll pay them and they'll live in Ümraniye"

Speaking about the players who will be leaving, Adalı said, "Unless I find a player who I'm 100% certain will contribute to this team, I'm not telling anyone to leave. We're in talks with all of them. They all have places to go. Everyone is waiting for the transfer window for certain places. Other than the financial burden, nothing else affects us. It doesn't affect our transfer policy. I wouldn't pay anyone to let them go; I'd pay them to let them stay in Ümraniye."

When asked about Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Adalı said, "I had a feeling Benfica wasn't considering letting Kerem go. We haven't had a meeting with Benfica because they have an injury in the same position and they can't replace Kerem quickly. Benfica already knows that Kerem wants to play for us if he comes to Türkiye. I've spoken to Kerem, and I wish him success. He's one of the rare players Türkiye has produced."

Adalı added that Semih Kılıçsoy wanted to go to Italian team Cagliari and said that no official offer had been received for the young player in the past.

"We will form a very good team"

President Adalı, stating that their priority is the league championship, said, "The league championship is our top priority before the Conference League. We haven't won a league title in a long time. We will build a great squad. It will take time for the 6-7 new players to become a team and establish a family atmosphere, but we will do it. Once the team is established and we achieve the results we expect in the league, we can set our sights on Europe."

The club's president, who stated that Elan Ricardo received the most offers during the transfer window, said, "He received 6-7 offers. We're in the decision-making process today or tomorrow. There are two serious offers from Portugal and Poland. We're trying to increase the playing time. The player needs to play 25-30 matches for the team he joins. When Ricardo returns, he'll be a star midfielder."

Adalı said they will recruit one domestic and one foreign player as Abraham's backup.

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