Besiktas coach Vincenzo Italiano admits summer talks with Benfica | OneFootball

Besiktas head coach Vincenzo Italiano says he spoke with Benfica in the summer as the club looked for a new manager after Jose Mourinho left for Real Madrid in a 15 million euros deal. Italiano was also in the process of leaving Bologna.

"Let's say yes, but I will not say who. I had talks with a few teams in Europe. I had a great conversation with Benfica's hierarchy, it opened my mind because before I was not open to working abroad," he told Corriere dello Sport.

Benfica ultimately chose Marco Silva, who was out of contract at Fulham. Italiano later headed to Türkiye to take over Besiktas after Sergen Yalcin’s exit.

"A few days later, Besiktas called me and presented a big project. I decided to try this adventure, and until a few months ago I would never have thought of doing it."

"I wanted to stay in Italy and try to achieve big things, but the story went differently."

Source: Glorioso 1904

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