Greek Defender Manolis Saliakas Reflects on St. Pauli Exit

Greek defender Manolis Saliakas recently opened up about his departure from Germany, where he enjoyed a successful career with St. Pauli, to return to Olympiacos this summer. In an interview with the Hamburg-based newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt, Saliakas discussed the challenging choice to leave his former club after four years and apologized to Olympiacos, the team where he developed during his youth.

Reflecting on his time in Germany, the defender mentioned his former teammate Philipp Treu. Saliakas stated that they spoke after a game and exchanged shirts, expressing his happiness for Treu following his move to Freiburg and appearance in the Europa League final last season.

Saliakas explained that returning to Greece was the right move for his family, especially following the birth of his child. Although Olympiacos has always been his favorite club in Greece, he emphasized that he will support St. Pauli for the rest of his life and intends to visit Hamburg often to see friends at the Millerntor stadium, noting that his lease in the city remains active due to the speed of the transfer.

On the international stage, Saliakas expressed immense pride in earning his fifth appearance with the Greek National Team. He highlighted the significance of playing for his country and celebrated a historic victory, marking the first time Greece has won a soccer match on German soil.

In other sports developments surrounding Olympiacos, reports indicate that the club is evaluating Chivas defender Diego Campillo. While a Sportime report noted that Campillo's contract with Chivas runs until December 31, 2026, other sources close to the Mexican club and international outlets state that his contract actually extends through 2029.

Mexican outlet FOX Sports reported that Chivas has not received any formal approach or transfer offers from Olympiacos or any other club for the defender. Observers suggest that any potential departure would require a significant financial offer, leaving the situation quiet until the upcoming January transfer window.