Besiktas head coach Senol Gunes has hit back at Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst for his recent criticism of the Turkish club's training methods.
The Netherlands international, 30, was on loan at the Turkish heavyweights when United registered their interest in his signature earlier this month. He had joined the Super Lig club on a season-long loan deal from Burnley last July and had scored a respectable nine goals in 18 matches.
However, once Weghorst learnt of United's interest in his signature, he was intent on cutting his loan spell at Besiktas short and returning to England and sealing a temporary switch to Old Trafford. The striker, who scored his first goal for the club during Wednesday night's 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the first-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, recently addressed how his move to M16 unfolded, outlining just how keen he was to get the deal over the line.
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Weghorst, speaking to Sky Sports, said: "[The phone call] was in the evening. It was already quite late, I was texting with my agent because I wasn't happy with [Besiktas] training and was complaining, to be honest.
"I was laying on the bed with the baby in my arms and he decided to give me the call. He thought it was the right moment because he'd been planning it for a while and it got so far that he trusted to tell me. I will not forget this call. I knew from the first second there was no doubt."
The Dutchman's comments about training at Besiktas, however, has promoted a response from boss Gunes. The 70-year-old, who is currently in his second spell in charge of the Turkish giants, believes he played a key role in him getting his career back on track after a difficult first few months at Burnley, so much so that he has claimed some of the credit for helping the United striker force his way into the Netherlands squad for the World Cup back in November.
"When he was going to the World Cup he told me he needed me," said Gunes. "They [the Netherlands] called him up last minute. He played with spirit here and did well over there,.
"He came here from Burnley and played well enough to get a move to Manchester United. You have your answer there. He was my player and he improved, God bless him."
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