Earlier this week, Celtic announced that Giorgos Giakoumakis had departed from Celtic Park.
The Greece international swapped Glasgow for MLS side Atlanta United in a reported £4.2million move.
Giakoumakis left Celtic 18 months into a five-year contract following his £2.5million arrival from VVV-Venlo in August 2021.
The 28-year-old enjoyed a fairly fruitful time in Glasgow’s east end, registering 26 goals and two assists from 56 outings.
Despite doing well at Celtic and in the Premiership, former Bhoy Lewis Morgan has issued a warning for Giakoumakis.
‘There are no guarantees in this league’
Morgan, like Giakoumakis, has also swapped Scotland for America, joining Inter Miami from Celtic in 2020.
Since then, the 26-year-old made another move, linking up with New York Red Bulls in 2022.
Morgan, speaking to the Scottish Daily Express, said “it doesn’t really matter” how well Giakoumakis has done in Scotland when it comes to plying his trade in the MLS.
“I know that his numbers were good at Celtic but that doesn’t really matter,” he said. This league is a completely different kettle of fish.”
“There are no guarantees in this league, the standard is so high. I’m sure Atlanta will be hoping he comes in and does what he has done over the last couple of years. But as I say this league is very tough and very demanding.
“We have some world class players here and everyone finds it difficult. Of course, we’re in the same conference as Atlanta so hopefully he doesn’t make them any stronger!”
‘Just below the top five leagues in the world’
Morgan also spoke highly of the standard of quality in the MLS, saying the league’s budgets would blow every Scottish team – except for Celtic and one other club – out of the water.
“Look I get it,” continued Morgan.
“Celtic and Rangers are Champions League clubs. It’s the pinnacle to play at the top table and that’s what he was doing. I’m a massive fan of Scottish football and it’s been great to see more teams in Europe. Rangers have done remarkably well, in particular, in recent years.
“But I truly believe – and I don’t want to sound disrespectful – that the standard over here, outside of these top clubs, would surprise everyone. The budgets over here would blow every Scottish team out of the water – apart from the big two. I think that the MLS is now so strong that it is just below the top five leagues in the world.”
Giakoumakis gets his wish
Giakoumakis certainly deserves credit for most of his efforts at Celtic, particularly at the turn of last year with Kyogo out for months.
However, the striker has looked eager to move away from Parkhead for a number of months now.
According to Greek outlet Sportime, Giakoumakis changed agents and told the club of his desire to move late last year.
Now, he has got his move, and it’ll be interesting to see if he can keep up his impressive scoring rate in across the Atlantic.
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