‘Biggest mistake’ – Foreign media react as Celtic player makes manager regret transfer debacle

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There have been many transfer sliding door moments in football over the years.

Celtic have had plenty themselves with the likes of Alex Iwobi coming close to a move while others such as Ivan Toney and John McGinn almost joined the Hoops.

These things happen and clubs, managers and supporters ultimately move on.

But for one boss, his “biggest mistake” came back to bite him when AEK Athens faced off against Olympiacos last month. Argentine manager Matias Almeida watched as his side were hammered 6-0 by the Greek giants where a certain Mr Luis Palma found the net.

The 25-year-old Honduran scored his first goal for his loan club and haunted Almeida after his 2023 switch to AEK broke down unceremoniously before he moved to Glasgow.

• READ MORE: All 10 Celtic Loan Players For 2024/25

How Celtic star Luis Palma came back to haunt AEK Athens

Now the media in Greece have reminded the coach of Palma’s talents and explained to their readers how, at the eleventh hour back then, Almeida pulled the plug even after the playmaker had travelled to make the deal from Aris happen.

“Of course, no one expected Olympiacos’ semi-final against AEK in the Greek Cup to realize that Luis Palma is a very good player,” they wrote in Sportime.

“However, in the short time he has been with the ‘red and whites’, it was his first convincing match in front of the team’s fans, accompanied by both a brilliant goal and a victory that made history due to the extent of the score.

“In addition to everything else that Matias Almeida has to worry about, it is certain that the AEK coach also remembered his biggest mistake, probably as the coach of the Union.

“When, after winning the championship, (former owner) Dimitris Melissanidis had brought him Luis Palma ready and agreed upon from Aris. The Honduran striker had already found a home in Athens and was just waiting for the formal signatures.

“However, for some reason that no one has yet understood, Almeida cut him, considering that he did not fit his style of play and instead asked the then owner of AEK to bring him Rodolfo Pizarro.”

Details of Palma’s Celtic to Olympiacos loan move

Palma’s goal has surely helped Olympiacos into the Greek Cup Final with the second-leg to come in early April and it’s nice to see the attacker flourishing.

He has only made six appearances so far but has performed well by all accounts.

MLS clubs wanted Palma back in January before he ultimately moved to Olympiacos and it seems like the deal has panned out for everyone.

He is on loan but there is an option to buy the player at the end of the season in a transfer that should land Celtic in the region of £3million.