Was it a mistake for Celtic to trade Giorgos Giakoumakis to MLS team Atlanta United? Since he left Glasgow, many Bhoys fans have pondered that topic for themselves and others.
He revived some of that talk with his most recent, strongly headed goal for Greece in a high-profile qualifier away to the Republic of Ireland on Friday, towering over the recently outstanding Celtic defender Liam Scales.
Giakoumakis is without a doubt a highly effective striker, and Celtic fans liked him for a reason. His accomplishments in the 2021–2022 campaign were crucial to Ange Postecoglou’s team’s first-season success. I have no problem with people remembering him with affection.
The notion that it would be sustainable to keep the Greek striker, though, is flawed. The truth is that he wanted to go somewhere else to be the main man. By the end, it appeared he wasn’t content to serve as Kyogo Furuhashi’s backup in a rotation. In the days leading up to his final departure to the USA, Postecoglou was very explicit about that.
Giakoumakis’s tendency toward confidence is what makes him the player that he is. He is brash, confident, and eager to establish his dominance over matches. Even off the bench, he was an excellent choice for Kyogo’s support. But if he wasn’t content with taking second place, it would be best for everyone if he were let go.
Yes, if he had been driven and eager to take on the role of Hyeongyu Oh, I would have like to keep him at the club. Unfortunately, he wasn’t. He is not Kyogo, and neither would I nor do I believe many others. Celtic needs a strong backup, but they also need someone who can accept and feel at ease with their position in the team.
Even if it meant Giakoumakis was seeking for alternatives, Kyogo was rightfully given priority by Ange Postecoglou and Celtic. He is undoubtedly the best forward we have had since Henrik Larsson.
He has established himself across the pond with 15 goals in the MLS since joining Atlanta, and all praise to him. But that doesn’t mean Celtic made a serious mistake just because he’s rediscovering form and success. Every transfer out of the club does not have to be evaluated on those criteria.
The Bhoys did well to secure a class contribution from Giakoumakis and gain money on his sale. Player power is high these days. That doesn’t imply that Oh is always the best option, however, but when I observe
