Blues Stelios bid fails

August 26, 2005

STELIOS: Staying at Bolton

MANCHESTER City's hopes of signing Bolton midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos have been ended by the news the Greece international has signed a new three-year contract at the Reebok Stadium.

City had tabled a £1million bid for the Euro 2004 winner, who joined Bolton from Olympiacos two years ago.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce told the club’s official website: “We have been working hard behind the scenes to get this agreed and I’m delighted that we can put all the speculation behind us.

“Throughout, Stelios has been very professional and he can now look forward to playing his best football at Bolton.

“I was concerned earlier this week that we might have lost him but in the end he always wanted to stay loyal to me and the club. He is a terrific little player and a real match-winner.

“I hope we can move on now and try to add to the squad before the transfer window closes next week.”

What is your reaction to the news? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (39) |

Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Lee, Manchester (26/08/2005 at 13:33)

Thank god for that, relief all around on that one at least.

Craig, Middleton (26/08/2005 at 13:33)

Good news for the blues this one! Overrated and overpriced at anything >1M. In days gone by, we (KK) would have panicked and thrown money at players just to see new faces in the doors and then work out how to fit them all together. SP is biding his time adroitly and if no-one signs that's fine by me. Like he says, we'll look in the new window or the one after that. We shouldn't worry about using our fine youngsters to plug gaps left by injuries etc. Come on City!!!!

Julie, York ( Manc in Exile) (26/08/2005 at 13:38)

This is fantastic news for the Whites

blue boy, manchester (26/08/2005 at 13:44)

thanks big sam!!!! your a star! now we wont have wasted our money on a player who would last a season then play reserve football!!! thanks sam!

SKY BLUE TEDDY BEAR, STALYBRIDGE (26/08/2005 at 13:47)

ALLARDYCE AND GARTSIDE ARE REPORTEDLY FURIOUS THAT ON THE EVE OF A GAME BOLTON HAVE ADOPTED A 'MORALLY WRONG' STANCE IN TRYING TO UNSETTLE THE PLAYER ON THE SIGNING OF HIS CONTRACT. BIG SAM IS QUOTED AS SAYING "IT SEEMS COINCIDENCE TO ME BUT THAT'S FOOTBALL."

Harry H, SK (26/08/2005 at 14:01)

Not fussed at all,I,ve said before I would rather see this extra million in Malbranques or Fulhams back pocket !

Egon Spengler, Ghostbusting (26/08/2005 at 14:11)

I'd love to hear the opinion of Ray from Bristol on this one. The other day he was bragging that City would get their man and calling Allardyce and Gartside "muppets". What do you think now, Ray?

Phil, Gatley (26/08/2005 at 14:21)

Fantastic news for Bolton Wanderers.

He is a quality player, and would have easily commanded a first team place at City. All those saying they are glad he didn't sign for City, musn't have watched him play very often.

Matt, Stockport (26/08/2005 at 14:32)

Thankd god for that, lets concentrate on spending money on players on the good side of 30.

Ferrari, Stockport (26/08/2005 at 14:35)

Another player of the same ilk as Ashton............No ambition! He has not only turned down the opportunity of playing in front of twice as many fans with City, he has also shunned the European champions, absolute fool!

Eric Jonker, Zoetermeer, NL (26/08/2005 at 14:35)

Stelios can thank City for putting in a bid (Liverpool never did as far as I know), so he got himself a new and better contract at Reebok.
Let's move on as I think SP already gave up hope he would get this player anyway.

Mad Mart, Torrevieja (26/08/2005 at 14:44)

Agents, agents, agents!

Roger, exiled in Holmfirth (26/08/2005 at 14:47)

Oh dear, what a shame.

Bermuda White, Amarillo (26/08/2005 at 15:00)

Glad all you City fans are happy he has not come. Last two seasons he has been magnificent helping us to great positions in the league - above City in fact.
Go on dreaming City boys, but we are the real rivals to Man U in this neck of the woods. Except for crowds of course - I know that matters to you more than the score.

Blue Contrarian, United States (26/08/2005 at 15:07)

Never liked him anyway. Let's get Malbranque.

Roger, exiled in Holmfirth (26/08/2005 at 15:08)

Bury are your level bermuda white. Always have been always will be

Lee, Manchester (26/08/2005 at 15:13)

Bermuda White - Get real mate, your a toy town team, with poxy support (13,000 for a semi-final) who are enjoying a very rare purple patch at best, but please don't insult yourself by comparing yourself to City in any shape way or form. You don't count attendance as important? How about honours lists, years spent in the top division, players capped internationally, transfer fees paid and received and results between the two sets of clubs. That might put you straight - in 5 years time you'll be back in the lower leagues and wondering what happended to your galaxy of over 30's on 1 year loans, you muppett.

Rob, Burnage (26/08/2005 at 15:17)

I'm glad the Stelios deal didn't happen,I never really saw what City and Liverpool were attracted too.

A fully fit Trevor Sinclair will score and create far more goals,he was always a much better solution to the right hand side of our attack.He has far more natural pace and skill,than Stelios

Cheadle Blue, East Stand (26/08/2005 at 15:27)

Not that bothered only hope SP hadn't included him in our possible 3/4 new additions. Got to admit this tranfer speculation palaver is a lot of wind and not enough substance.
Saying that can't wait to see who we're linked to next.

Cheadle Blue, East Stand (26/08/2005 at 15:29)

Ferrari, Stockport (26/08/2005 at 15:31)

Lee, i couldn't have put it better myself! :-)

gerry, brentford (26/08/2005 at 15:55)

yet another player not wishing to play for city the list is growing,it appeared that when Stelios realised just like Kanoute did that the club he wanted to join weren't pushing to sign him he decided to stay at his present club. WE ALL have to ask "why cant Pearce attract players (decent ones) to the BITTERS? you may have made a fairly good start but very shortly YOUR BUBBLE WILL BURST.

Paul, Lancs (26/08/2005 at 16:03)

The funniest start to a lovely bank holiday weekend!
HA! HA !HA! HA! HA! HA! HA !

Harry H, SK (26/08/2005 at 16:04)

Gerry what is this BITTERS you talk of ? Please explain,I,ve never heared it before,CLOWN!

Lee, Manchester (26/08/2005 at 16:05)

Gerry, Brentford - Is it field trip day from the asylum today? Kanoute stayed with his current club did he? He's nopw at Sevilla, so if you are going to come on hear and spout garbage, please try to have at least some of your points in order. Concentrate more when your spending your life watching football on Sky, though you must be a Utd fan cos you can see the ground from your bedroom window. It's frightening that these people are out there isn't it?

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