Guti expected in Istanbul to sign for Besiktas

Spanish midfielder Jose Maria Guti was expected to complete his move to Besiktas on Monday evening, the Turkish first division club announced.

The 33-year-old, who left Real Madrid on Sunday after a 15-year career with the Spanish giants, is due to undergo his medical on Tuesday morning before signing a deal that, according to Turkish daily Hurriyet, will earn him an annual salary of 2.7 million euros.

The midfielder confirmed at his final Real press conference on Sunday that he was studying an offer from Besiktas, who are coached by Bernd Schuster, Guti’s boss at Real in 2007-08.

“I have a good offer from them, an interesting one, now we will see,” he said.

New Real coach Jose Mourinho had indicated that he was not counting on Guti, a product of the club’s youth system who made his professional debut in 1995.

He helped Real win five domestic league titles and three European Champions League titles, having scored 86 goals in 542 appearances for the club. Only eight other players have played more matches for the club in its history.

Guti, who can play as an attacking or central midfielder, also had the honour of being the man who scored the team’s 5,000th goal.

“I believe you have to be aware that there are stages that close and in this case for me it is a very glorious stage at Real Madrid that is coming to an end,” the 33-year-old said on Sunday.