Istanbul’s football giant, Beşiktaş, has decided to exclude five players from the training process following a disappointing performance in their defeat against city rivals Fenerbahçe. Besiktas suffered a 3-1 loss in the city derby against Fenerbahce last weekend. Subsequently, the club management chose to remove five players from training. Those affected are key players in whom the club has invested significantly: Eric Bailly, Vincent Aboubakar, Jean Onana, Valentin Rosier, and Rachid Ghezzal.
The decision came as a response to their poor performances and lack of cohesion with the team. ‘We have expelled five footballers from the team. Eric Bailly, Vincent Aboubakar, Jean Onana, Valentin Rosier, and Rachid Ghezzal will be removed due to subpar performances and their inability to integrate effectively with the team. We aim to progress with new support within the team,’ stated Samet Aybaba, the team coordinator.
Of these players, Cameroonian striker Vincent Aboubakar had the most notable performance this season, scoring four goals. However, much more was expected from him. Currently, the Black and Whites rank fifth in the Super League, having earned 26 points and trailing significantly behind top contenders like Fenerbahce and Galatasaray by 14 points.
Furthermore, the Istanbul team struggled in the Conference League group stage. They faced a heavy 5-0 defeat at home against Club Brugge in the fifth round and are at the bottom of the table with only one point. Their group also includes Bodo/Glimt from Norway and Switzerland’s Lugano.
This season saw Senol Gunes leading the team before his departure due to poor results. Burak Yilmaz briefly took over, followed by Riza Calimbay. However, it seems unlikely that Calimbay will remain long-term. With the team performing poorly, the management hopes that these suspensions will serve as a wake-up call to the rest of the team. The future of the suspended players remains uncertain, and it’s possible that some may leave the club as early as January, having failed to meet the expectations of Beşiktaş’s leadership.
