Yes, Celtic’s Big Greek Could Make Megabucks In Saudi, But There Goes His Career.

The story which broke yesterday about Giakoumakis having an option in Saudi Arabia is interesting, and it’s interesting because if it’s true he’s being offered a chance to make more money than he ever thought he’d make in his life. That’s got to get him thinking.

But it’s interesting in another way too, and it’s this one which ought to weigh most heavily on his mind if he’s even considering this. (Provided that the transfer fee is up to snuff and Celtic wants to accept it, which is the other part of this which the media would seem to prefer ignoring than facing up to in a realistic way; we have this guy on a long term deal.)

He can go and get the megabucks, this much is true. But if he moves to Saudi Arabia that’s the end of his career. At 28 he’d be lucky ever to play for Greece again, or get a move back to Europe. That’s the kind of place where players go to retire, not where they head for what should be best years of their career. That sort of move appeals only to a small number of players; those who don’t have ambitions in the sport but only want the money.

Is that Giakoumakis? I don’t think it is, which is why I reckon he’d turn down even the idea of this. The big man is a winner. He’s got titles in different countries and he can win more. He should be targeting more honours instead of something like this.

It’s one of those stories you don’t know whether to believe it or not, but I genuinely don’t think it’s an option even if they were serious and they could bring Celtic to the negotiating table with the right bid. Which I very much doubt if I’m being honest.

He will have better offers – footballing offers – than that. To be perfectly blunt, he’s got a better footballing offer, a vastly better one, right now. This guy has got too much about him to be considering the graveyard of a career … this is where you go if you’re over 35 and can’t get an easy gig at Ibrox. There’s virtually no chance of it.