Diatta bolsters Beşiktaş back line
Friday, August 3, 2007
Article summary
Beşiktaş JK have continued their busy summer of transfers by signing versatile Senegalese international defender Lamine Diatta from AS Saint-Etienne.
Article body
'Great team'
The 32-year-old, who can play in central defence or at right-back, has joined the Istanbul side on a three-year contract. Diatta has spent his entire career in France but now follows wingers Rodrigo Tello and Mehmet Yozgatlı, Turkish international goalkeepers Rüstü Reçber and Hakan Arıkan, and midfielder Edouard Cissé to Beşiktaş. Diatta, whose previous clubs include Stade Rennais FC and Olympique Lyonnais, said: "I am glad to be here. Beşiktaş are a great team and everyone in Europe everybody knows that."
Coach pleased
Coach Ertuğrul Sağlam told uefa.com: "We will benefit from his experience. Diatta is in good shape and we have the option of using him in different defensive positions." Beşiktaş travel to Moldova's FC Sheriff next Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round holding a 1-0 lead; if they prevail, Diarra could be eligible to play against FC Zürich in the third qualifying round.