Napoli centre-back Kostas Manolas will continue at Olympiakos FC as the international signed with the Greek champions on Thursday afternoon.
Upon signing his contract Manolas, 30, said he was glad to return and promised he would give his all to the team.
The international central defender sent waves of enthusiasm among the fans of the Reds. Gate 7, Olympiakos’s organised fan club released a photo on its Facebook page, inviting fans to Alexandra Square, for the reception of the “Greek super player”, as they said on the post.
Italian media outlet Corriere Dello Sport wrote on the morning of Thursday (16/12) that the player is in Greece to negotiate with Olympiakos. However, it seems that it is already a done deal since only the formalities are pending.
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.