Quaresma returns to Beşiktaş squad

ISTANBUL

Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma will join Beşiktaş’s training camp in Antalya between Oct 10 and 14 as the league stops for an international break. AA photo

Beşiktaş added Ricardo Quaresma to its squad after the Portuguese star spent the opening two months of the season out of the team.

Coach Samet Aybaba said that he is available for selection after Quaresma and the club board agreed on a pay-cut from his salary.

“Quaresma and the board agreed. Now I will meet him and will add him to the squad if he fits with my principles,” Aybaba said to reporters.

The decision comes after Beşiktaş suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat at the hands of Istanbul rival Fenerbahçe on Oct. 7, to suffer third consecutive defeat.

With eight points in seven matches, Beşiktaş sits 11th in the 18-team division.

Quaresma will be added to the team’s training camp in Antalya between Oct. 10 and 14 due to the Spor Toto Super League break during the international fixtures.

The former Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Sporting and Porto man reportedly agreed to a cut of 750,000 euros from his yearly salary 3.75 million, which is a heavy burden on the financially struggling Super League club.

Expensive substitute

Cash-strapped Beşiktaş has been trying to offload its wage bill, and has parted ways with players such as Simao Sabrosa, Egemen Korkmaz and Fabian Ernst since last summer. The club has been asking Quaresma to either accept a pay cut or find another club.

However, Beşiktaş failed to find an interested club for the Portuguese star, and Coach Samet Aybaba has not been using him until the issue is resolved, making Quaresma an extremely expensive substitute.