Former Anderlecht manager Besnik Hasi has revealed he strongly opposed the club's decision to sign Yasin Ozcan last summer - now he believes the move reflects deeper problems behind the scenes.
In an interview with Het Laste Nieuws, Later reported by Voetbal BelgiëThe former Anderlecht boss did not back down.
Anderlecht sacked Hassi in early January, ending a second difficult spell in charge. This was followed by a period of approximately 11 months of poor performance, with Anderlecht collecting only five points from seven league games.
Conflict with Oliver Renard over recruitment policy
Tension was rising behind the scenes, particularly between Hussey and director of football Olivier Renard.
Renard prioritized signing young foreign players, with an eye on maximizing future transfer profits.
Hussey instead emphasized experience, favoring academy options and proven signings over long-term projects. This was especially true in central defense after Jan Vertonghen retired last summer.
Why did Hasi oppose the signing of Yasin Ozcan?
Despite those concerns, Renard opted to recruit youngsters Mihajlo Ilic and Yasin Ozcan. Ozcan arrived from Aston Villa, but Hasi made it clear he never supported the move
Hassi argued that the team lacked leadership, saying: "Personality and quality – that's what Anderlecht needed."
"A leader, because our defense was young after Jan Vertonghen retired. And then you finally bring in Mihajlo Ilic and Yasin Ozcan? Two boys who still need to train. I was not in favor of that, no.
When challenged on Izcan's Premier League background, Hasi rejected the claim: "He didn't come from Aston Villa. He came from Kasimpasa. He didn't play a single second for Villa."
What happened to Yasin Ozcan after Anderlecht?
Although Hasani's comments may seem a bit harsh, he may have a point considering what happened to Ozcan this season.
He headed to Belgium in the summer but struggled to settle or impress Hassani. There were also reports that he was struggling with language difficulties.
As a result, Aston Villa recalled him in late January. But instead of keeping him at Villa Park, they immediately sent him on loan to Besiktas. That deal includes a buyout obligation at the end of the season.
He was part of the big conversation that took Tammy Abraham to Aston Villa. Villa's willingness to include him in that deal arguably underlines how limited his value was, and lends credence to Hasi's criticism.
