OFFICIAL: Varela signs new deal with PAOK

Fernando Varela put pen to paper on a new contract with PAOK, keeping him in Thessaloniki until 2022.

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All seemed as if Fernando Varela would continue his career elsewhere after talks with PAOK regarding a new contract fell through last week. However, PAOK supremo, Ivan Savvidis took matters into his own hands and convinced the defender to sign a new contract with the Dikefalos tou Vorra.

Varela put pen to paper on a new three-year deal which will keep him in Thessaloniki until 2022. According to newspaper Live Sport, Varela agreed to a three-year contract with annual earnings of 1.2 million euros. The 31-year old can also receive 300,000 euros in bonuses based on the number of appearances he makes (100,000) and if PAOK win the league/cup double and qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stages (200,000). The same report mentions that Varela turn down offers from Asia that surpassed annual earnings of 1.7 million euros.

According to multiple sources, PAOK captain, Adelino Vieirinha also played a key role in the negotiations process, playing as a mediator between the player and the club’s administration to reach a successful deal.

The club released an official announcement on Wednesday:

“PAOK FC announced the contract renewal of Fernando Varela until June 2022.

After a successful 4-year stint in Romania with Vaslui and Steaua București, he decided in the summer of 2016 to accept PAOK’s offer. He signed his contract, brought his family, and settled in Thessaloniki.

Logically, he could not have dreamed of what was to follow. Three Greek Cups, one Super League title, countless personal achievements, and an unprecedented emotional bond that had never been experienced by any member of the Varela family.

After one round of discussion, the ‘golden’ medium was found and The Beast, his wife, and his three children are not going anywhere.

The stopper from Cape Verde, accepted PAOK FC’s offer and renewed his contract with the Dikefalos until June 2022.

One of the leaders of the last three seasons, a rock in Razvan Lucescu’s team, an exceptional professional, a great character both on and off the pitch, remains to continue to write history in the black and white shirt.

Good Luck….. #TheBeast”

Coach Razvan Lucescu expressed his desire to keep Varela in the roster for the new season, as the defender has been a rock in the PAOK defense since joining the club in 2016 and played a key role in the club’s title run last season. PAOK housed the best defense in the league last season, conceding just 14 goals from 30 games.

Varela joined PAOK in 2016 and since then, has made 119 appearances across all competitions with five goals scored and five assists to his name. He is valued at 2.85 million euros on Transfermarkt.

Image Source: PAOK FC

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