Over the last few months, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, the former Arsenal FC, defender has led everyone on a merry dance speculating as to which which changing room he will rest finally set his football boots.
Even as the deal was finally signed with Olympiacos on Monday, there were talks going on with Liverpool. The English Premier League champions were to offer the Greek defender a contract to the end of the season to help plug the gaps at the back caused by injuries to key players Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.
According to The Athletic, while Sokratis, aged 32, may have fallen out of favour with Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp had a clear appreciation of Sokratis’ abilities – he had signed the player from Werder Bremen in 2013 when he was manager of Borussia Dortmund.
Sokratis went on to shine under Klopp and was voted among the best XI in the Bundesliga for the 2013-14 season. The website Anfield Watch said Liverpool had been in talks with the player throughout January.
READ MORE: Olympiacos joins list of clubs eager to sign Sokratis in January
While Olympiacos has finally landed the player on a reported two-and-a-half year contract worth €1.2 million, Sokratis had been linked with moves to Napoli, Fenerbache, as well as with teams in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The defender joins the Greek champions who top the Super League with 48 points, 11 points clear of Athens rivals AEK. The team is in the running in the Europa League where they are next due to face PSV Eindhoven.
Sokratis told the BBC: “It was easy to say yes (to Olympiacos). I did not come to Greece to end my career but to win.”