Giorgos Giakoumakis, once hailed as a potent force in Celtic’s attacking lineup, has been the source of an on and off debate among the fanbase since his departure. The Greek striker’s move to Atlanta United after just 18 months at Celtic seemed abrupt, and his replacement, Oh Hyeon-gyu, struggled to fill his shoes immediately. This left a section of the support questioning the club’s decision to let Giakoumakis go.

Giakoumakis’ stint at Celtic was indeed impressive. He joined from VVV-Venlo in August 2021 for £2.5 million and quickly made his mark by becoming the joint top scorer in the Scottish Premiership for the 2021/22 season despite missing half the season through injury. His physical presence and knack for scoring crucial goals were pivotal under Ange Postecoglou’s management. Yet, despite his on-field contributions, he often found himself playing second fiddle to Kyogo Furuhashi, which fueled his frustrations and hampered any notion he was deserving of a much bigger wage package.

After moving to Atlanta United for £3.5 million, Giakoumakis continued to showcase his goal-scoring prowess, netting 24 goals in 43 appearances. His time in MLS further highlighted his capabilities, earning him the title of MLS Newcomer of the Year for 2023. However, his tenure in the United States mirrored his time at Celtic in one crucial aspect—contract issues. Reports of stalled negotiations and his push for a more lucrative deal have now led to his transfer to Cruz Azul for a substantial $10 million package. [Fabrizio Romano]

While it is natural to admire a player’s ambition to maximise earnings during their career, Giakoumakis’ pattern of seeking better terms suggests a certain mercenary aspect to his professional approach. This mentality likely meant that Celtic were always going to struggle to retain him long-term. The financial demands Giakoumakis would have made were perhaps unsustainable for Celtic, who have to balance ambition with financial prudence. The player seems to quickly agitate for a move once in the door.

Celtic’s decision to sell Giakoumakis, in retrospect, appears justified. Throwing significant money at a player who was not the first-choice striker would have been impractical. Kyogo’s consistent performance and Giakoumakis’ own contractual aspirations meant that parting ways was a the only sensible move. The loan signing of Adam Idah from Norwich City in January did eventually quell some of the pining for Giakoumakis. Idah felt like a slight upgrade on the Greek striker. The Irishman scoring pivotal goals to help Celtic to a league and cup double. Now, if only Celtic could get the big man on a permanent deal.

Giakoumakis: The Right Call by Celtic

So while Giakoumakis’ departure was initially met with some dismay, his career trajectory post-Celtic has validated the club’s decision. His moves reflect a player seeking the best financial deals, and Celtic’s choice to let him go rather than meet his rising demands was wise. Giakoumakis’ journey serves as a reminder that in football, sometimes the right decision isn’t always the most popular one.