Napoli defender Kostas Manolas has completed his transfer to Olympiacos for a reported €2.5m plus bonuses.
The centre-back had officially been in Greece since yesterday due to ‘personal reasons,’ but reports quickly emerged that he had a medical with Olympiacos this morning.
That was confirmed when fans gathered in thousands outside the club headquarters and the club released a video of Manolas waving to the supporters with an Olympiacos scarf around his neck.
According to Sportitalia transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà, the cost of the operation was €2m plus €1m in bonuses.
Manolas also gave up his December salary, which handed Napoli €400,000 as well.
It’s reported they had asked Manolas to wait until the Christmas break to make this move, but he was determined to come back home to Greece.
This is about love and family, not money, as his salary at Olympiacos will be less than half of his current Napoli wage.
The 30-year-old had arrived from Roma in 2019 for €36m, but never really made his mark there or gelled fully with Kalidou Koulibaly.
It is a return to Olympiacos, where Manolas played from 2012 to 2014.
Early Christmas gift loading… 🔴⚪ #Olympiacos #Manolas #ManolasIsBack #ManolasReturns pic.twitter.com/iMimjRE2an
— Olympiacos FC (46🏆) (@olympiacosfc) December 16, 2021
Per #Manolas all’Olympiakos siamo già oltre gli annunci ufficiali 👋 pic.twitter.com/Lsq0RVVkaY
— Sergio Chesi (@sechesi) December 16, 2021
Unless the “plus bonus” will amount to 20M, this is a ridiculous waste of money. The only comfort is that 36M went to another Italian team so it stays in the system. But if you’re a Napoli fan you have to be pretty upset at this. I’m not even a Napoli fan and I’m upset at this. He’s only 30 too. I just don’t understand it.
napoli really messed up here, good luck to manolas, im sure he will thrive at olympiakos
I’m a Napoli fan and I was excited when we signed him but he never lived up to his transfer fee no or his quality at Roma. This is about getting his high salary off the books and letting him go to where he wants to likely finish his career. Credit to Spaletti for figuring out that out best center back pairing was without him in it.
He needed to go. Has gone downhill rapidly and is 10kg overweight.
He looked like a great signing when it happened, but as Gbonafide said, he never reached the heights he did at Roma.
Milenkovic of Fiorentina might be an option for Napoli.
Hahahahahahahaha Nabboli what a pathetic provincial club!
Kevin, could you please list me the non-pathetic capital clubs of major leagues? Let’s keep there a rule that they must have managed to win championship – preferably multiple, as they are non-pathetic – with domestic resources.
The point being, provincial clubs win the championships. There’s only like two capital based clubs in Europe that matter. 😉
Manolas was injured this year. this a stupid move on Napolis part.He just turned 30.He 10 times better than other backs instead of koulibaly.To say he lost ability is foolish an excuse. Rahmani LOL