Ciro Immobile is set to join Besiktas, so the Rome derby against José Mourinho will be recreated in Istanbul next season.
Besiktas directors arrived in Rome Thursday morning to finalise a deal to sign Italian striker Immobile from Lazio.
The experienced centre-forward is the best scorer in Biancocelesti’s history, with 207 goals in 340 games across all competitions.
The 34-year-old never found the net against Mourinho’s Roma but during that time, Lazio won four games against their city rivals, losing only once to the Giallorossi.
Now that Immobile joins Besiktas, he and Mourinho will recreate the Roma derby in Istanbul.
Only a few months ago, in November 2023, Immobile and the referee infuriated Mourinho during a derby della Capitale. The striker vehemently protested after committing a foul and the Special One thought he deserved a second yellow card.
The ex-Roma coach did nothing to hide his frustration on the sidelines and repeatedly shouted to the referee that he “didn’t have the ball” to show a second yellow card to Immobile.
Mourinho FURIOSO per il mancato secondo giallo a Immobile 😡#Bordocam #DAZN pic.twitter.com/SOjjOUgmI0
— DAZN Italia (@DAZN_IT) November 21, 2023
“Immobile should have been sent off,” Mourinho insisted during a post-match press conference.
“On the contrary, he dominated [referee] Massa. Immobile is a smart and experienced player. He knew how to put pressure on the referee. He protested twice that way without consequences.”
Mourinho was hired by Besiktas’ city rivals Fenerbahce earlier this summer, signing a two-year contract.