Besiktas come clean on Marouane Fellaini transfer speculation

Besiktas have cooled talk of any interest in Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

Fellaini, who has just returned to action after a knee problem, has been linked with a move to the Super Lig club. His twin brother, which was initially thought to be Fellaini, was spotted at an Instanbul hotel last week.

Mansour – with a remarkably similar afro – was snapped in a hotel reception in Turkey, sparking a frenzy of tweets on social media.

But, according to an exclusive by Calciomercato, they spoke to Besiktas’ director of sport Ali Naibi at the WyScout forum at Stamford Bridge and asked him whether the Turkish club’s interest in the Belgian was genuine.

“Reports in England claim we are interested in Fellaini because his brother has come to watch a couple of our games but I must be honest and say there is nothing concrete,” said Naibi. “We are not in talks with the player nor with Manchester United.”

United boss Jose Mourinho has placed plenty of trust in the 29-year-old midfield enforcer, whose contract expires next summer, and in the summer he was adamant Fellaini would not be sold.

“It’s easier for Galatasaray to get me than Marouane,” Mourinho said in July. “He is too important to me. No chance.”

The Besiktas man also denied the club had received an offer for Oguzhan Özyakup, who Arsenal have been linked with.

“I know both (Inter ands AC Milan) clubs are interested but we haven’t received any offer yet. He is our captain and we want him to stay with us.

“I know many top clubs want him, we’ll evaluate offers as soon as we receive them.”