‘Not surprised one bit’: Peter Grant reacts to what’s happened to 28-year-old after Celtic exit

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Peter Grant says he ‘isn’t surprised’ to hear that Giorgos Giakoumakis is smashing it in the MLS nearly a year after leaving Celtic.

With Kyogo Furuhashi being the main man at Celtic, firstly under Ange Postecoglou and now Brendan Rodgers, those playing behind him have to resort to minutes from the bench – Hyeongyu Oh will know all about that now.

That’s a big reason why Giorgos Giakoumakis joined MLS side Atlanta United last January, with the 28-year-old well and truly smashing it. 

The Greek star recently won the Major League Soccer Newcomer of the Year award ahead of Lionel Messi – Giakoumakis has scored an incredible 17 goals from 27 games. 

This has delighted Peter Grant who shared that he was a ‘big supporter’ of Giorgos Giakoumakis because of the way he handled himself on the pitch, as he told Go Radio.

The Bhoys legend spoke about how the thriving MLS star would be difficult to play against and be a ‘real competitor’ out on the pitch.

Giorgos Giakoumakis thriving in the MLS

“Anyone listening to this programme knows that I am a big supporter of Giakoumakis,” said Grant. “We loved him. There was no doubt about that.  

“He was very affectional. Very difficult to play against. A real competitor who wanted to score goals. I was disappointed when he left. He was one of these boys who wasn’t willing to sit about because Ange got rid of him very quickly.

“But to bring someone like Oh in. That’s probably the sort of type they didn’t have around about the football club.

“To lose Giakoumakis, I am delighted he has done well because I thought he did ever so well for Celtic – I am not surprised he has gone over to America and scored goals. I am not surprised one bit because he had that wee bit of devilment about him, who wanted to score goals, knock defenders about and get in that area that’s going to hurt to score a goal. I am chuffed for him – I think Oh could become a very good striker given time.”

Giorgos Giakoumakis was right to leave Celtic

Of course, Celtic fans would have looked for Giakoumakis to stay on board and come in whenever Kyogo got injured or was rotated.

But you can’t blame a player for not accepting his fate on the bench. It’s easy for players, in today’s day and age, to sit on the bench and just accept the massive wad of cash that comes their way.

Celtic went on to complete the Treble last season, things are still going strong now and the player himself is performing at the peak of his powers.

Given that Giakoumakis has managed to put his name in lights, it will be interesting to see if a return to Europe will be back on the cards because strikers are always in demand.