Giorgos Giakoumakis' Celtic Exit: A Wise Career Move to Atalanta United

Former Celtic striker Giorgos Giakoumakis‘ decision to leave the club and join MLS side Atalanta United earlier this year has been described as the right move for his career. Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Rangers and Scotland defender Alan Hutton acknowledged that Giakoumakis was Celtic’s “best finisher” before his departure.

Giakoumakis revealed that his relationship with then-Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou was poor, and he felt he didn’t receive the respect he deserved from the club and its people. This led to his decision to leave Celtic and seek a new opportunity in the United States.

Since joining Atalanta United in February, Giakoumakis has thrived, scoring an impressive 17 goals. He even outperformed football legend Lionel Messi to win the 2023 MLS Newcomer of the Year award.

Hutton acknowledged that such departures happen in football, where managers may not want certain players in their squads and find ways to move them out. In Giakoumakis’ case, leaving Celtic has proven beneficial for his career.

Hutton believes that Giakoumakis would have been a valuable asset to Celtic, especially as they are currently in need of a goalscorer like him. Despite Celtic’s efforts to bring in Oh Hyeon-gyu as a potential goalscorer, he is still young and adapting to a new culture. Giakoumakis, on the other hand, had already established himself as a strong finisher during his time at the club.

Overall, Giorgos Giakoumakis’ decision to leave Celtic has been seen as a wise move for his footballing career, and Celtic now faces the challenge of finding a suitable replacement for their “best finisher,