Joining Newcastle United this summer was ‘clearly a mistake’ for goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, who had plenty of other offers on the table.
That’s according to commentator Christos Sotirakopoulos, who has commented on the Greek goalkeeper to Kicker.
The 30-year-old’s move to Newcastle was one of the more eyebrow raising deals this summer, joining the Magpies in a €23.6m deal from Nottingham Forest.
Most viewed the move as a deal between both clubs to help with their PSR and Financial Fair Play issues, particularly when Elliot Anderson ending up swapping Newcastle for Nottingham Forest in a similarly priced deal.
Those suspicions have only been added to as Vlachodimos has spent the start of this season on the sidelines, making just one appearance for Newcastle so far in the EFL Cup win over AFC Wimbledon.
That is clearly now what he was hoping for having left Forest in search of regular playing time elsewhere after making just seven appearances for them following a move in September last year.
It’s a deal that simply hasn’t made sense for him or Newcastle and Sotirakopoulos echoes that, insisting the goalkeeper had other options.
“Clearly a mistake. He could have moved to Germany, Spain or Italy – in that order. There were enough offers,” he said.
“At Benfica he was between the posts for a top team for five years. In Germany, for example, he knows the country, the people and the circumstances. Even if he had played at Nottingham.
“This is a team that often comes under pressure and defensive order can quickly be lost as a result. I don’t know the circumstances of the expensive move to Newcastle well enough.”
