Persepolis coach Mehdi Tartar announces squad overhaul

Persepolis FC head coach Mehdi Tartar has addressed the significant squad overhaul ahead of the team’s opening match of the 26th Iranian Premier League season against Shams Azar Qazvin. Tartar confirmed that the departure of several veteran players, including Omid Alishah, Soroush Rafiei, Milad Sarlak, and Morteza Pouraliganji, was part of a strategic “generational change” intended to reshape the team’s age structure and long-term outlook.

Tartar took full responsibility for the transfer decisions, noting that the new roster was selected in coordination with him. While acknowledging the loss of experienced talent, he emphasized that the recent training camp in Turkey was designed to integrate new signings with the remaining squad.

Club veteran Rahim Yousefi commented on the transition, expressing skepticism regarding the current technical staff and suggesting that the club might require a high-profile foreign coach to achieve success. He also touched upon the controversial conclusion of the previous season, noting the discussions surrounding the potential awarding of the title to Esteghlal FC.