GIORGOS GIAKOUMAKIS went down the usual Instagram route to say goodbye to Celtic fans after sealing his £4.2million move to MLS outfit Atlanta United.
Josip Juranovic, Moritz Jenz and Oliver Abildgaard took the same social media path to say their farewells in recent weeks.
Giakoumakis joined in with “forever-in-my-heart” platitudes as he quit the champions only 18 months into a five-year contract following his £2.5million arrival from Dutch minnows VVV-Venlo in August 2021.
GREEN FOR GO…how the Greek media broke the news Giorgos Giakoumakis in December would be leaving Celtic.
Make no mistake, though, the 28-year-old Greek international, scorer of 26 goals in 57 appearances, wanted OUT of Parkhead and had no intention of hanging around to fight Kyogo Furuhashi for the first-team spot.
Giakoumakis had a change of agent in an effort to get a move from Ange Postecoglou’s side and reports from his homeland insisted he would attempt to force a shift from Glasgow TWO months ago, as CQN reported at the time.
The powerhouse frontman did an exceptional job for the team at the turn of last year when it was obvious Kyogo would be sidelined for a lengthy period – four months as it transpired – and he deserves great credit for those efforts.
The move to Georgia was confirmed in a statement on Giakoumakis’s Instagram. He posted: “Well, that difficult time has arrived! It was an incredible journey! I loved and was loved by the incomparable, amazing Celtic fans!
“Thank you very much! You will forever be in my heart and mind! I will be forever grateful to you! Goodbye. Your GG!”
CELEBRATIONS…Giorgos Giakoumakis in typical pose after a goal for Celtic.
THE LAST HURRAH…Giorgos Giakoumakis runs away to celebrate with David Turnbull after netting the second goal in the 2-0 Viaplay League Cup semi-final win over Kilmarnock.
A 28-word Celtic statement read: “Giorgos Giakoumakis has joined Atlanta United on a permanent transfer. Everyone at #CelticFC thanks Giorgos for his efforts for the Club and wishes him good luck in Atlanta.”
He knocked back an enhanced contract offer from the Hoops hierarchy in November to trigger intense speculation.
Giakoumakis’ last act as a Celt was to score the second goal in the 2-0 win over Kilmarnock in the Viaplay League Cup on January 14 to set up a Glasgow derby grand finale at Hampden on February 26.
As well as coming off Postecoglou’s radar, the energetic frontman disappeared from everyone’s view following the match against the Ayrshire outfit.
He missed five successive games – all won by the team with 18 goals scored in his absence – as he headed for a new career elsewhere.
Giakoumakis has now got his wish of a transfer, but you have to wonder if the player miss Celtic more than Celtic will miss him.
