Cagliari: ‘We wanted to buy Kilicsoy early, but Besiktas wouldn’t let us’

Cagliari confirm they tried to activate their purchase option for Semih Kilicsoy early, but will buy him from Besiktas for the agreed €12m fee plus add-ons.

The 20-year-old talent was signed on loan at a cost of €1m with an option to buy for a further €12m plus €2m in bonuses and a 20 per cent cut of the future sale. Fee.

The forward has scored four goals in 14 Serie A appearances for the Sardinians, as after a difficult start to life in Italy, he has started to earn regular playing time.

“He is doing well and entertaining us with his skills,” said Cagliari director Guido Angelozzi in a press conference today.

“They are already talking about him in Europe, he’s a little phenomenon. We did try to buy him out early for a lower fee, but they didn’t want to do that.

“The intention is to continue with him, hoping to do great things together. We intend to buy him outright at the end of the season.”

Cagliari had a very active January transfer window, including the deadline day loan with option to buy of striker Zito Luvumbo to Real Mallorca.

They had been on the verge of securing Christian Kouame on loan from Fiorentina, but changed their minds.

Angelozzi confirmed that the sale of defender Sebastiano Luperto was against the wishes of coach Fabio Pisacane, but the offer from Cremonese was too good to turn down.

“We were close to Benjamin Dominguez, the agent said he would certainly arrive, but Bologna had to find his replacement and then decided against it. I was upset, I told (Bologna chief Gigi) Sartori he wronged me.”