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Barcelona send Miralem Pjanic to Besiktas on loan

By Ernesto Hernandez

BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 24: Miralem Pjanic of FC Barcelona reacts during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Elche CF at Camp Nou on February 24, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 24: Miralem Pjanic of FC Barcelona reacts during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Elche CF at Camp Nou on February 24, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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BARCELONA, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 24: Miralem Pjanic of FC Barcelona competes for the ball with Pere Milla of Elche CF during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Elche CF at Camp Nou on February 24, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 24: Miralem Pjanic of FC Barcelona competes for the ball with Pere Milla of Elche CF during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Elche CF at Camp Nou on February 24, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /

Facing the possibility of sitting on the sidelines another season, Miralem Pjanic has agreed to join Besiktas on loan.

According to Goal, the agreement between Barcelona and Besiktas is for a season-long loan with both sides splitting the cost of the player’s wages. Besiktas paid €2.7 million to secure his signing.

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After losing players such as Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Emerson Royal, Pjanic joins the list of players exiting the club as the cost cutting for the Catalans continues.

Barcelona were desperate to offload the former Juventus midfielder

The 31-year-old was the subject of transfer rumors all summer with the most likely destination being a return to Juventus. But that move never materialized as the transfer window came and went.

However, the window was still open in Turkey and Russia with the Catalans growing optimistic a deal with a club in one of those countries could be reached.

While Pjanic preferred a move back to Serie A, he ultimately decided to join Besiktas because he wanted to play. Something he was not going to get under Ronald Koeman.

Before he left, according to Sport, Pjanic had already agreed to a wage cut of 60% which goes into effect this season as well as the two years remaining in his contract. When he returns from loan, it should facilitate a move somewhere else or even a stay at Barcelona.

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Pjanic leaves the club after only one season where he featured very little due to lack of confidence from Koeman and less than stellar performances when given the opportunity. At Besiktas, he will look for the playing time he knew he was going to get with Barcelona.

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