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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Sport
Matthew Fulton

Giorgos Giakoumakis earns Greece call up as Gus Poyet's Celtic exit promise rings true

Giorgos Giakoumakis has earned a call up to the Greece national team as the former Celtic man settles in to his new life.

The Greek hitman left Glasgow last month to sign for Atlanta United in the MLS after months of a transfer saga following news the 28-year-old had stalled on contract talks with the Scottish champions. Giakoumakis upped sticks from Ange Postecoglou's side to join the American outfit and was urged heavily by Greek boss Gus Poyet to make the decision after he criticised the lack of game time in Glasgow.

Now Giakoumakis has been selected again for an upcoming EURO 2024 qualifier with Gibraltar before the Greek outfit take on Lithuania in a friendly. The striker already has 11 caps for his country but Poyet's previous advice seems to have rung true.

READ MORE: Jack Grealish reveals Celtic hero he sent letters to as Man City star's 'favourite player' revisited

Speaking to OLBG in January, he said: “I think Giako is a strong character, he loves to play football, he gives you 100% all of the time, I think that is why he is so popular with Celtic and I think that shows when he was fighting with everybody in Scottish football.

“He’s got better in front of goal and scored a few goals, but in this last season he has not been playing regularly. He felt that he wanted to play, simple.

“The more good decisions you make in your career, the better your career becomes. Wherever he is in the world, he is going to be in the [Greece] Squad - if he is fit! I really like him and he is a big part of the Greek national team and I hope he makes the right decision for himself and for the national team.”

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