Beşiktaş’s opening playoff round game against Danish side FC Midtjylland is scheduled for the July 23 clash .
Manager the Italian gaffer views Midtjylland as a battle-hardened rival before the campaign gets under way.
Bookmakers’ betting lines currently put the Black Eagles in front ahead of the clash.
Meanwhile, reports suggest Beşiktaş lodged a €12m bid for Cyle Larrivee only to see a counter-offer of twenty-five million euros arrive from the rival bidder.
With the transfer window set to shut on July 25 , Larrivee’s future remains up in the air and talks could reopen before the deadline.