Juanfran the man for Besiktas
Friday, August 6, 2004
Article summary
Spain defender Juanfran has left RC Celta de Vigo to join Turkish UEFA Cup challengers Besiktas JK.
Article body
Notable signing
The 28-year-old former Levante UD and Valencia CF left-back has agreed a three-year contract and will become the first Spaniard to play for the Turkish team, which is led by former Real Madrid CF coach Vicente del Bosque. Kivanç Oktay, Besiktas director of football, said: "Del Bosque really wanted to see him in our squad. We believe he is going to be successful."
European experience
Juanfran spent five seasons at Celta, scoring six goals in 126 appearances, and played for them in the 2003/04 UEFA Champions League, appearing in all six group games before a knee injury in January kept him out of the first knockout round defeat by Arsenal FC. He will hope to represent Besiktas in the UEFA Cup when they enter at the first-round stage, with a tie to be played over two legs on 16 and 30 September.
