Reports from Greece and Australia has Melbourne Victory tipped to sign one of Greece’s greatest players, Giorgios Karagounis.
Victory coach Ange Postecoglou was in Athens last week speaking with the national team star, hoping to convice him to join the club for next season’s A-League.
Melbourne Victory is remaining tight-lipped on the deal. Neos Kosmos spoke to them yesterday and they only mentioned negotiations were still underway and wouldn’t be confirming anything until the deal was finalised. The deal is set to be finalised next week.
The 32-year-old midfielder is set to leave English Premier League club Fulham, where he played 21 games last season and is said to be looking at a number of deals from european clubs and Greece’s Panathinaikos.
Melbourne Victory’s offer is reported to be worth 800,000 euros that could rise to 1 million euros when bonuses are included.
Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported that Postecoglou told Karagounis “We want you to become our own Alex Del Piero,” referring to Sydney FC’s popular international recruit.
Karagounis played for Greece during its famous 2004 European Championship win, and has previously played for Panathinaikos, as well as Inter Milan and Portuguese club Benfica.
Karagounis is said to be seriously considering the bid, although other sources say he would find it difficult to move away from his family.
Speaking after Greece’s victory at Lithuania on Friday Karagounis refused to say where he would go, but made it rather clear he would only be returning to Greece for holidays – despite the offer that Panathinaikos has tabled, said to be worth about a third of that by Victory.
Fellow Greek, coach Postecoglou played for the Greek side Panachaiki in his football career.