Bakasetas: “Thank you Mr. Alafuzos, he did everything for me to become a Panathinaikos player – I was looking for a new challenge”!

With his scarf Panathinaikou appeared in the arrivals hall of “El. Venizelos” o Tasos Bakasetas! Obviously in a good mood, the captain of the national team returned to Greece for the sake of the “clover” and in his first statements he noted that he was looking for a new challenge in his career.

He called him a legend Fatih Terimabout whom he characteristically told reporters that, having played for so many years in Turkey, “I can understand its size better than you“, while thanked Yiannis Alafouzoswho did everything in his power to bring him to Panathinaikos, as he underlined!

What Tasos Bakasetas said in detail:

For his repatriation: “Welcome I found you. It is a new challenge, something that I was looking for in my career, I needed to find something new, to be more focused, to become better. I am very happy to be a Panathinaikos player. The rest will be discussed in the stadium».

On Fatih Terim’s role in his transfer: “It was a combination of things. If you have played in Turkey, surely you can understand the greatness of Fatih Terim, let me know better. He is a legend. We had played against each other several times, I think there is a mutual respect and I know that he did enough things for me to come to Panathinaikos. I want to thank the president of the team, Mr. Alafuzos, who did everything, everything in his power, to become a Panathinaikos player and then Mr. Papadimitriou, who devoted time and effort and made an effort to make this deal today».

On whether he had in mind to return to Greece: “I did not expect to return to Greece. I was looking for a new challenge abroad. However, from the moment that a team like Panathinaikos shows such a strong interest, you cannot be indifferent in any case and the whole treatment and how they managed some situations convinced me to become a Panathinaikos player».

On whether he’s ready to play: “The last few days have been strange. I will discuss this with the coach. Yesterday I played 30 minutes, I’m not out of rhythm, but I’ll talk about that with the coach».

For the world: “I like it when people have high expectations of me. All I can say to the world of the team, for as many years as I wear the Panathinaikos shirt I will give 100% of myself every day, and not just every Saturday and Sunday in the matches».

About the climate in Trabzon: “I will love them for a lifetime, goodbyes are hard, it’s not something easy., This closing came a little strange. But I consider that my circle was closed, it was time to look for a new challenge in my career».

The captain of the national team finally arrived in our country just before 20:00, so that his acquisition from Panathinaikos could be initiated and while he was expected at 20:15.

THE 30-year-old attacking midfielder he left Turkey after 4.5 years, while he was in Trabzonspor for 2.5 years. At Trabzon airport, he was greeted by people from Trabzonspor, as well as fans of the Turkish club. Many, in fact, asked him for autographs and photos, with the international ace not spoiling them.

THE Tasos Bakasetas he started his professional career with Asteras Tripoli (61 points, 5 goals, 3 assists), where he played for five years from 2010-15, while in between he played on loan in Thrasyvoulos (10 assists, 1 goal) and Aris (10 assists, 3 goals). In January 2015 he moved to Panionio (50 comps, 13 goals, 12 assists), in which he played for 1.5 seasons. In the summer of 2016, he moved to AEK (103 points, 20 goals, 13 assists), in which he played for three years, winning the championship of the 2017-18 season.

In the summer of 2019, he moved to Turkey on her behalf Alanyaspor (65 points, 21 goals, 12 assists), while two years later he was acquired by Trabzonspor (121 points, 33 goals, 21 assists), with which he won the championship in the 2021-22 season. This season he has 18 appearances with 5 goals and 3 assists. He has 63 appearances for the Greek National Team, with 13 goals and 9 assists.