The departure of a player from a football club is typically a well-publicised event and an easy thing for clubs to confirm in the age of social media. Yet, Celtic have remained silent about the exit of goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas, despite the player himself confirming his departure last month.
This lack of official communication has sparked questions about the club’s strategy and whether an official announcement is even necessary.
Barkas joined Celtic from AEK Athens three years ago for a substantial £4.5 million. He has confirmed that his contract with the club has been terminated, a fact that Celtic has not corroborated as of yet. The 29-year-old goalkeeper has expressed gratitude towards Celtic for allowing him to seek opportunities with other clubs. In an interview with RTV Utrecht, Barkas stated, “That’s right. My agent worked hard for that. I also want to thank Celtic for it. I can now start thinking about next season.”
The Greek stopper signed a four-year deal back in 2020 that should have run until 2024. [Celtic FC]
The termination of Barkas’ contract has resulted in a significant financial loss for Celtic. The club has effectively written off the £4.5 million transfer fee they initially paid to AEK Athens. A high cost-to-performance ratio marked Barkas’ tenure at Celtic. The club ended up paying a staggering £281,000 per league game for the player’s services.
Some believed his performances this season at FC Utrecht would yield some sort of transfer fee for Celtic this summer until Barkas revealed his contract was ripped up.
Celtic’s silence regarding Barkas’ departure raises questions about the club’s communication strategy. Is an official announcement necessary, or is the player’s confirmation sufficient? While the club’s silence may seem unusual, it could be a strategic move to avoid drawing attention to the financial loss incurred from the Barkas deal.
The Barkas debacle serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of recruitment. The high cost of the goalkeeper’s tenure at Celtic underscores the financial risks the club undertakes when signing any new player.
