Dimitris Giannoulis on the verge of playing in the Premier League with Norwich City
The arctic winds that blow mercilessly over football grounds in the United Kingdom during the month of February have a habit of ending promising careers before they ever begin. Indeed, young imports from warmer continental destinations that arrive on loan in January almost always have to endure a baptism of fire in a desperate bid to convince their new club that they are good enough.
The problem is, however, their bodies have to adjust to the climate differences which can take a while and the weather only starts to get consistently warm by the end of the season. At that point, the player in question has been deemed unsuitable for the English game and subsequently moved on.
If you can make it in the Championship, you’ll make it anywhere
In young left-back Dimitris Giannoulis’ case, his first two appearances for his new club Norwich City, who he had joined from PAOK in late January, was against a Neil Warnock coached Middlesbrough and a trip to Millwall, a club known more for its brawn than tiki-taka. Most seasoned pros in the English game wouldn’t wish those back-to-back fixtures on their worst enemies, so in essence, there was a strong chance Giannoulis’ ambitions to play in England would be over in 180 minutes never mind six months.
🗣"I don't want to speak too much about it"
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) January 19, 2021
Norwich boss Daniel Farke has confirmed Norwich are in advanced talks with Dimitris Giannoulis but no deal is done yet pic.twitter.com/49FdKb2Sew
That appeared to be the case during a 0-0 draw in London, as covered on the Norwich official site, when Giannoulis crashed into the advertising hoarding after trying to swing in a cross from the byline against Millwall late in the second half. Following that, the 25-year-old ran gingerly back to his position but his face said he wished to be anywhere but in this stadium at sub-zero temperatures.
Norwich boss Daniel Farke looked on but didn’t flinch and instead shouted out words of encouragement to a player who had been a standout left-back in Greece. Ultimately, Farke knew that he would adapt in time. Indeed, Giannoulis’ great form that he showed for PAOK wasn’t going to disappear overnight.
Interest from abroad
This was a player that was courted by Atalanta, Monaco, Newcastle, Napoli, and even Manchester City at one stage as they searched around for backup options for Benjamin Mendy.
Pep Guardiola eventually decided against bringing Giannoulis to the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, but he is undoubtedly a player that will remain on radars across Europe for the foreseeable future.
Farke keeps the faith
Farke’s faith in his new arrival from Thessaloniki was justified as any early struggles were replaced with the consistent form that made the left-back so sought after. The Greek international has completed 14 appearances for Norwich and has become a fan favorite amongst the Canaries' support. Indeed, Giannoulis’s relentless running up and down the flank coupled with his composed defending under pressure is certainly one of the reasons Norwich are about to be promoted to the Premier League. The odds prove that outcome to be a near certainty given that as of the 16th April, Betway have priced the Canaries at 1.03 to claim the Championship title.
No way through yesterday. The skipper on fire! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LMJgYtGd32
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) April 11, 2021
This will naturally mean promotion back to the league that they were relegated from in 2020, and when that happens, Norwich will be obligated to buy Giannoulis from PAOK. The fee is believed to be in the region of £6.2 million which will be the second-highest transfer fee that the Greek club has ever received in their history. Additionally, Giannoulis will also triple his wages when promotion to the Premier League is confirmed.
Giannoulis arrives in the promised land
In reality, for all the concerns about a harsh English winter and the effect it would have on Giannoulis, the opposite has happened.
The young Greek sensation has risen to the challenge by earning the respect of his manager, teammates, and new fans. For a player this talented, it’s easy to believe that he will look back on the months between February and May in 2021 as the most crucial in his career. That’s not to suggest that the 25-year-old will find life in the English top-flight easy, but the rigors of the Championship are miles away from the grace of the Premier League. Indeed, players of extraordinary talent thrive in the rarefied atmosphere of the top tier in English football.
Having now run the gauntlet and put in the hard yards, Dimitris Giannoulis can now look forward to a summer of warmer weather and most importantly, the prospect of playing in the world’s greatest league next season.
