Besiktas coach Valerien Ismael is disappointed to lose Ridvan Yilmaz after Rangers completed a £5 million deal for the Turkish international left-back, speaking to Spor Haber 7.
With their Super Lig opener against Kayserispor now less than a fortnight away, Yilmaz’s departure is an unwelcome – if somewhat predictable – blow to Ismael’s plans at a club who finished a lowly sixth in the Super Lig table last season.
After failing with two initial bids, third time really was the charm for Rangers. 21-year-old Yilmaz signed a long-term contract with Rangers on Monday, after the Ibrox outfit agreed to pay a fee in the region of £5 million (Fabrizio Romano).
“We wanted to keep Ridvan,” sighs former West Brom and Barnsley boss Ismael.
“I told him that, with this fast-paced game (in Turkey), he could attract more attention at the international level due to his youth.”
Rangers sign Ridvan Yilmaz as Calvin Bassey replacement
Yilmaz, a technically gifted and very modern left-back, actually produced far better numbers than the man he will replace in Glasgow, mustering a combined seven goals and assists last term. Then again, Calvin Bassey did spend much of 2021/22 in a more central role than wide on the flank.
And Ismael suggests that Besiktas had no choice but to sell Yilmaz, even if the coach would have loved to keep the one-time Tottenham Hotspur target in Istanbul.
“Actually, we wanted to keep Ridvan. I said he should stay with us but it’s his decision,” the Frenchman adds (Posten). “The club also had to make an economic decision.”
“I’m really pleased to have added Ridvan to our squad,” says Gers coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst. “I believe he will bring quality.
“I have been really impressed with his development in a really demanding, winning environment at Besiktas over the last few seasons.
“I’m looking forward to welcoming him to training and to seeing him in action for the first time.”
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