Ljubicic to AEK and Olympiakos continued on the Iberian track

 

Ljubicic to AEK and Olympiakos continued on the Iberian track


By ANDREAS MITSIS


                     Ljubicic on the right in picture together with former teammate Josip Sutalo.


AEK managed on the last day of the transfer window to land the signing of Dinamo Zagreb's Robert Ljubicic for a sum of almost five million euros. Olympiakos, in turn, has had a transfer window characterized by signings linked in one way or another to the Iberian peninsula, so also on transfer deadline day.

AEK pounced towards the end of the January transfer window by signing Dinamo Zagreb's versatile midfielder Robert Ljubicic. "Enosis" had not been particularly active in the winter market but quietly worked on the transfer of the Croatian-Austrian.


Ljubicic will cost the reigning league and cup champions close to five million euros and the contract will be valid for the next 5.5 years. An important role in the transition was played by AEK's owner Dimitris Melissanidis, but also to a lesser extent by the centre-back as well as compatriot Domagoj Vida, who was not slow to recommend the move to Ljubicic. They are both now teammates. 


Coach Matías Almeyda caught the eye of Ljubicic when the teams clashed in the CL qualifiers earlier this season. A double meeting where football ended up in the dark due to hooliganism with a fatal outcome. The 24-year-old can fill in at a number of different positions, but thrives best in any role in central midfield. 


He has made U internationals for both Austria and Croatia and expressed a desire to represent Croatia in the A national team context if it becomes relevant. Ljubicic is, among other things, multi-competent, hard-working and fits profile-wise/theoretically into Almeyda's AEK. 


Dinamo's ultra group BBB did their part in trying to stop the transfer because they would rather not see their club sold to AEK in particular. However, Ljubicic was determined about the move to Athens and AEK, which in the end together with AEK and Dinamo reaching an agreement became decisive factors. Ljubicic will wear shirt number 23. The debut could happen as early as this weekend when the second-placed AEK at home at Agia Sophia face Asteras Tripolis in the league game. 



                

***

Olympiakos are almost never inactive on a transfer deadline day (the Greek window closed the night of today 1/2). Nor would it be this transfer window for them, even though the big club from Piraeus publicly stated the opposite this weekend. The team has been strengthened with the winger Jovane Cabrel. The 25-year-old is a national team player for Cape Verde and is currently at the AFCON. 


The player joins on loan with option to buy from Sporting CP. Center back Ruben Vezo also joins. The centre-back is bought for a small sum from Levante, where the 29-year-old was on a contract that would expire in the summer. The Portuguese has extensive experience of playing in La Liga. 6 out of 7 winter acquisitions either have a connection by joining from an Iberian club or are from Portugal or Spain. 


In other words, coach Carlos Carvalhal and new sporting director Pedro Alves have really left their mark on the squad. Some players have also had to leave, including Pep Biel heading to Augusburg on loan to reunite with his former FC Copenhagen coach Jess Thorup. Signings of non-contracted players/bosman cases can be made until February 9th. 


ANDREAS MITSIS

Hellas Football

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