Brandon Williams could be handed career lifeline by former Manchester United boss

Ex-Manchester United defender Brandon Williams could reportedly be in line for a return to football with Turkish giants Besiktas.

The Istanbul club are managed by former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer .

It was Solskjaer who handed Williams his professional debut in 2019 in a match against Liverpool.

The 24-year-old free agent is on the look out for a new club after being given a suspended jail sentence for dangerous driving in May.

The defender was driving when he collided with a Ford Fiesta on the A34 on August 20, 2023.

A court heard that Williams had been travelling at 99mph in a 70mph zone in his Audi A3 just seconds before.

The collision saw his car crash into the back of the Fiesta before hitting a central reservation.

The driver and two passengers in the other vehicle, suffered injuries and their car was written off due to the damage. 

He had previously admitted dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

Williams came through the ranks at Manchester United before enjoying loan stints at both Norwich City and Ipswich Town.

And according to the Mirror, he could be set to try his hand on the continent with Besiktas under the guidance of Solskjaer, who previously reserved praise for the full-back.

The feeling is definitely mutual with Williams reserving high praise for the Norwegian head coach.

“For me, he’s been probably the best I’ve worked under,” Williams said in a recent podcast. “Even off the pitch, speaking to you, giving you advice, especially because I was young as well – he was like a really good mentor.”

Williams famously called out United legend Rio Ferdinand in the aftermath of Manchester City’s Treble success in 2023.

The United academy graduate weighed in on City’s achievement by comparing it to United’s identical feat on 1999.

He took to social media saying: “Nobody wants a sloppy seconds.”

Williams then took aim at Ferdinand who was complimentary of City’s Treble win.

“@rioferdy5 Bet you don’t congratulate if you was [sic] player keeep [sic] the same morals. [Snoozing face emoji] too [sic] face is boring,” he wrote on his Instagram story.

Williams could become the second Englishman to pull on the Besiktas shirt next season following Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s recent departure.

Tammy Abraham recently joined the club on a season-long loan from Roma after spending the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan, scoring ten goals.

The former Chelsea striker enjoyed a solid end to last season with the Rossoneri and Solskjaer is hoping he can fire Besiktas closer to Istanbul giants Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.

Abraham, who helped Roma win the 2022 UEFA Conference League under Jose Mourinho, will be hoping to get one over on his former boss who is now in charge of Fenerbahce.

Abraham revealed he and Solskjaer spoke personally before he chose to make the move to Besiktas.

He also conversed with former Besiktas stars Dele Alli and Michy Batshuayi, who both helped convince him to sign for the Black Eagles.

“Everyone spoke so highly of Istanbul and the club,” Abraham said. “I talked with my wife, my family, my friends and they all agreed this was a great opportunity. It became an easy decision.”