Coach Vincenzo Italiano, currently in charge of Besiktas, revealed in an interview with Sky Calcio Unplugged that, at the end of his contract with Bologna, he received numerous offers from top-level teams in Europe. “After my relationship with Bologna ended, I received many requests from foreign clubs,” he explained, reporting that he had received contacts from both the Premier League and Benfica and Besiktas itself.
According to the former rossoblù coach, the surprise was great. “I was very surprised and happy to be able to have talks with managers of prestigious clubs,” he said, adding that discussions with various clubs had pushed him to reconsider his options. “After speaking with them, I changed my mind a bit and decided to make this choice,” he concluded, underlining that the decision to accept Besiktas' offer was motivated by a shared long-term vision.
Italiano described the talks as "very beautiful and educational", highlighting that the clubs he spoke with presented structured projects for the first months, the second semester and the following year. “It was an approach that I had never seen before: they explain to you what needs to happen in the first months, then in the second semester and the following year, because the idea is to stay together for many years,” he explained. He appreciated the clarity and foresight of the proposals, which helped consolidate his decision to accept the challenge in Türkiye.
The coach also reflected on the fact that, although football is universal, the main difficulty lies in adapting to new cultures and habits. “When you go on the pitch it's the same, but settling in can be complicated,” he observed. However, he expressed optimism about his new adventure with Besiktas, believing that the team has an ambitious and sustainable project.
With the start of the new season, Italiano is preparing to lead Besiktas towards ambitious goals, both in the Turkish Serie A and in European competitions. The club has expressed full confidence in his work, and the coach has declared that he is ready to give his all to achieve the ambitions shared with the management. The next phase therefore promises to be a period of consolidation and growth, with the aim of taking Besiktas to new heights on the international stage.