Miralem Pjanic had a difficult period at Barcelona after arriving at the club from Juventus in 2020. A complex deal was signed that saw Arthur Milo move in the other direction, and the Bosnian coach did not settle well at Camp Nou under former coach Ronald Koeman.
Having failed to make a significant impact, Pjanic left the Catalan giants last summer, signing with Turkish club Besiktas on loan for the 2021/22 season.
The midfielder has had varying spells in the Turkish capital, having played only 24 matches so far in which he scored four assists. He was suffering from infections and the Corona virus which hindered him somewhat.
Now, Besiktas sporting director Sehun Kazanci has confirmed that the club will not extend the 32-year-old’s stay in Istanbul beyond the end of the season, insisting that Pjanic will return to Barcelona once the season is over.
Kazanji was also quoted by GOAL España as saying: “Pjanic has been on loan to our team since the beginning of the season. However, we will not continue with him next season, we will only start with names that fit the coach’s system.”
The report claims that Besiktas had considered extending the ex-Juventus star’s mission beyond the ongoing campaign. He also adds that Pjanic himself was keen to continue in Istanbul as he and his family feel settled there.
But Besiktas changed his mind on the matter, with Kazanci making it clear that the midfielder will return to Camp Nou once the curtains fall in the 2021/22 season.
However, the 32-year-old is unlikely to find a place in Xavi Hernandez’s squad, given the abundance of midfield options that already exist at the club.
Consequently, Barcelona will have to find a new suitor for Pjanic, as the report claims the Bosnian international still has fans in Italy. However, his annual salary of €9 million may make it difficult to attract buyers.