Ciro Immobile has explained why he terminated his contract with Besiktas. The 35-year-old Italian striker scored nineteen goals but didn’t enjoy his time in Turkey. Immobile felt there wasn’t enough pressure in Istanbul.
After eight remarkable seasons with Lazio, Ciro Immobile’s career took an unexpected turn when he decided to leave the Roman club in the summer of 2024 to embark on a new adventure with Besiktas in Turkey.
The move was seen as a bold choice for a player who, despite being well into his thirties, was still a prominent figure in Italian football. Many expected Immobile to bring his wealth of experience, clinical finishing, and leadership to the Turkish giants, potentially guiding them to domestic success and making a mark in European competitions.
However, despite scoring an impressive 19 goals in his sole season with Besiktas, the experience in Istanbul fell short of his expectations. The veteran striker openly admitted that he struggled to find the right motivation and competitive edge in the Turkish league. “I lost that motivation at Besiktas,” Immobile confessed during his unveiling at Bologna. “It wasn’t about the club or the fans I just didn’t feel the same pressure, the same intensity that drives me to perform at my best. I need that sense of urgency, the feeling that every match is a test and that I have to prove myself all over again.”
This hunger for competition and relevance is what drove Immobile to terminate his contract with Besiktas just a year into his tenure, opting for a return to Italy a footballing environment where he feels most alive. Signing with Bologna on a free transfer represents not just a homecoming, but a rejuvenation of his career at 35. Bologna, under the guidance of their ambitious management and coaching staff, offers him a platform to compete in one of Europe’s most demanding leagues while staying in the spotlight.
At the press conference introducing him as Bologna’s new signing, Immobile was candid about his motivations. “I still feel the need to be challenged and to feel the pressure in the build-up to a match,” he said. “I’m the kind of player who thrives when there’s something at stake, when the fans expect you to deliver, and when your place in the team is never guaranteed. That’s the kind of environment that pushes me to give everything I have.”
His decision to join Bologna was influenced not just by professional factors, but also by the passion he sensed within the club and the city. “When the opportunity to come here arose, I didn’t hesitate. I felt the enthusiasm in the city, in the fans, and within the club itself. That’s exactly what I was missing. I didn’t need anyone to convince me I knew straight away this was the right place for me.”
Immobile's ambition goes far beyond simply enjoying his final years as a professional player. His first goal is to earn a recall to the Italian national team, now under the leadership of Gennaro Gattuso. “It’s true that returning to the national team is one of my goals,” Immobile confirmed. “Playing at the World Cup would be a dream, and getting there would mean I’ve had a strong season with Bologna. Of course, Gattuso hasn’t called me yet, but I’ll let my performances speak for themselves.”
But personal ambitions don’t stop there. Immobile has his sights set on an historic achievement: becoming the Serie A top scorer for a fifth time, something no player has ever accomplished. “No one has ever managed to win it five times, so I won’t deny that it’s one of my objectives,” he admitted with determination. His previous Capocannoniere titles 2013/14 with 22 goals, 2017/18 with 29 goals, 2019/20 with a record-equalling 36 goals, and 2021/22 with 27 goals solidify his place among the greatest goal scorers in Italian football history.
At Bologna, the challenge will be fierce. He is set to compete with Thijs Dallinga, the promising Dutch striker who had an impressive season prior to Immobile's arrival. The competition between youth and experience could prove to be a valuable asset for Bologna, giving the club multiple tactical options and a deeper squad capable of navigating the rigors of Serie A and potentially competing for European spots.
Immobile’s arrival has also sparked excitement among Bologna fans, who see the signing as a statement of intent from the club. For a team that has been steadily improving in recent seasons, adding a striker of Immobile’s calibre even at 35 represents a blend of ambition, experience, and hunger. The striker himself is eager to embrace this new chapter with the same fire that characterized his best years at Lazio.
As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on how quickly Immobile adapts to Bologna's system, his on-pitch chemistry with new teammates, and whether he can recapture the prolific form that made him one of Serie A’s deadliest forwards. If he succeeds, a national team recall, a potential World Cup appearance, and that unprecedented fifth Capocannoniere could all become a reality a perfect finale to a storied career that refuses to fade quietly.
