Aug
10
Diogo signs with Olympiacos
Filed Under Greek Super League | Leave a Comment
It is not exactly known if Portuguesa’s young striker Diogo has signed with Greek club Olympiacos but all signs point to yes. Even if it is not official yet, all sources from both Brazil and Greece say that the striker will continue his career in the Greek Superleague. Rumors are that Olympiacos will pay Portuguesa nearly 10 million Euro while Diogo will receive 5 million Euro for a 5-year contract with the Greek champions. Diogo has played for Brazil’s under-20 national team and was the deciding factor in Portuguesa earning promotion to the top division last year; the young striker scored 29 goals for his team last season and he already had 4 goals in 8 games this year.
Olympiacos was in dire need of a capable striker to complement K who are certainly a great player but can use all the help he can. Don’t forget that after many years, this is the first time that the team has to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League. Team owner Sokratis Kokkalis had to spend money to bolster his squad this year or the huge revenues his team had enjoyed for the last ten years from their appearances in the Champions League would dry up. He also had to sign some good players to remain completive against rival clubs Panathinaikos and AEK. The former signed Brazilian star Gilberto Silva this summer while the latter enjoys the services of another famous Brazilian Rivaldo.
Olympiacos fans have nothing to fear, however. Other than the likely addition of Diogo, Olympiacos has signed midfield players Dudu and Leto complementing an already capable squad that enjoys the services of experienced players such as ?or?evi? and Stoltidis and younger but skilled players such as Papadopoulos, Galletti and Belluschi . It looks like Olympiacos needs only one more striker to have a full squad capable of remaining the Greek champion but also succeeding in European club soccer.
Update (August 18, 2008): Diogo is on a plane and on his way from Brazil to Greece. The deal is apparently done and the young striker is going to Greece to sign the paperwork and officially join his new club. Olympiacos desperately need a good striker and hopefully Diogo will be able to live up to everyone’s expectations.