Ansarifard set to join AEK while Galanopoulos ostracized
Former Olympiacos striker Karim Ansarifard is set to join AEK as a free agent this week, while gifted midfielder Konstantinos Galanopoulos has been frozen out of the team after a contract dispute.
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Ansarifard is on his way back to the Super League. Previously, the Iranian striker represented Panionios and Olympiacos in Greece between 2015 and 2018, before he was subsequently offloaded to Nottingham Forest by the Erythrolefki. Since then, the 30-year-old has struggled to gain any consistency, but he is close to securing a transfer to AEK after reaching an agreement with the Enosi. Ansarifard recently terminated his contract with Al-Sailiya in Qatar.
Outlets in Greece have revealed that Ansarifard is already in Athens. He will undergo his medical tomorrow before penning his contract with AEK which will have a duration of three years.
The forward has a strong scoring record in the Super League having registered a grand total of 32 goals in 78 appearances across his spells with Panionios and Olympiacos. On the international front, Ansarifard has participated in 74 matches with the senior Iranian national team, tallying 18 markers.
Ansarifard will be signed as a replacement for Sergio Araujo.
GALANOPOULOS OSTRACIZED
However, in negative news for AEK supporters, Konstantinos Galanopoulos has been removed from the first team after declining the club’s offer of a new contract.
Galanopoulos’ current deal with the Kitrinomavri is due to expire in the summer of 2021.
According to several reports, AEK’s proposal does not match Galanopoulos’ demands, with the 22-year-old midfielder wanting a higher wage. AEK owner Dimitris Melissanidis consequently made the decision to ostracize Galanopoulos from the team with immediate effect.
Until his contract with AEK ends, Galanopoulos will continue training in Spata, but head coach Massimo Carrera won’t be allowed to select him. The state of play will only change if Galanopoulos eventually decides to accept AEK’s contract proposal.
Interestingly, in the autumn of 2018, a similar situation was witnessed with Vasilis Lampropoulos, Andre Simoes and Tasos Bakasetas. Simoes and Bakasetas later returned to the team after accepting AEK’s contract offer, whereas Lampropoulos remained on the sidelines.
Galanopoulos competed in 15 games for AEK in the 2019/2020 campaign.
