Besiktas to keep Fernandes and Almeida

Jul 3, 2012 9:20:00 PM

The Portuguese duo have both expressed an interest in leaving Istanbul but coach Samet Aybaba is determined to hold on to the pair for at least another season

Besiktas president Fikret Orman insists that the club have no intention of selling either Manuel Fernandes or Hugo Almeida this summer.

Fernandes asked that his contract with the club be terminated in May because of a dispute over unpaid wages and the midfielder is reportedly keen on joining Real Zaragoza.

Meanwhile, Almeida revealed on Monday that his dream is to play in either Spain or England, but Fikret insists that neither player is for sale.

"Our coach [Samet Aybaba] will make the final decision on players who might leave the team, but he wants to hold on to Fernandes and Almeida, so we will most certainly keep them," the Besiktas supremo told AA.

Fernandes arrived in Istanbul from Valencia last summer, while Almeida, who represented the Seleccao at Euro 2012, joined from Werder Bremen in January 2011.

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