Barcelona midfielder will return to Camp Nou after loan spell, director confirms

Miralem Pjanic had a difficult spell at Barcelona after arriving at the club from Juventus in 2020. Signed in a convoluted deal that saw Arthur Melo move the other way, the Bosnian never really settled in well at Camp Nou under former boss Ronald Koeman.

Having failed to make much of a mark, Pjanic left the Catalan giants last summer, signing for Turkish outfit Besiktas on loan for the 2021/22 season.

The midfielder has had a mixed spell in the Turkish capital, managing just 24 appearances so far in which he has registered four assists. He has had troubles with injuries and coronavirus which have held him back to an extent.

And now, Besiktas’ sporting director Ceyhun Kazanci has confirmed that the club will not be extending the 32-year-old’s stay in Istanbul beyond the end of the season, insisting that Pjanic will be returning to Barcelona once the season is over.

As quoted by GOAL España, Kazanci said: “Pjanic has been on loan to our team since the beginning of the season. However, we will not continue with him next season We will start with only names that are suitable for the coach’s system.”

The report claims that Besiktas had considered extending the former Juventus star’s stint beyond the ongoing campaign. It also adds that Pjanic himself would have been keen to continue in Istanbul as he and his family feel settled there.

But, Besiktas have had a change of heart on the matter, with Kazanci making it clear that the midfield ace will be returning to Camp Nou once the curtains fall on the 2021/22 season.

However, the 32-year-old is unlikely to find a place in Xavi Hernandez’s squad, considering the abundance of midfield options already at the club.

Barcelona, thus, will be forced to find a new suitor for Pjanic, with the report claiming that the Bosnian international still has admirers in Italy. However, his annual salary of €9 million will could make it difficult to attract buyers.