Cash-Strapped Besiktas Part Company With Pepe

By Max Wise

Former Real Madrid defender Pepe has parted company with Turkish giants Besiktas due to financial problems.

Besiktas are having problems paying some members of their playing and technical staff, and with Pepe reportedly on an annual wage of €9.5m, they have decided to end their relationship with the three-time Champions League winner.

Pepe reportedly had to benevolently foot the bill of some Besiktas staff before departing the club on good terms.

Pepe joined Besiktas on a free transfer in the summer of 2017 after spending ten years at Spanish giants, Real Madrid.

The former FC Porto defender made 17 appearances in all competitions this season for Basiktas and recorded five goals.

The club confirmed via a statement on Monday: “Besiktas and Kepler Laveran Lima Ferreira Pepe have mutually cancelled their contract and parted ways. The club thanked the Portuguese star for his efforts and wished him luck in his future career."

Former Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo left the club on similar grounds in September and former Liverpool forward, Ryan Babel, has been told he can leave when his contract expires at the end of this season.