PAO closer to GilbertoBrazil’s captain is about to become a Panathinaikos player
The most expensive signing in the history of Panathinaikos soccer club was close to completion last night, as the Greens have reportedly reached an agreement with Gilberto Silva for him to move to Greece from Arsenal. The Brazil skipper’s agents agreed terms with Panathinaikos in a six-hour meeting held in Athens on Thursday and the club was awaiting confirmation from Arsenal that it accepts the 1.5-million-euro purchase offer by the Greek club. Reports last night suggested that Arsenal had sent an affirmative response, so the transfer will probably be completed during next week, with the player’s visit to Athens for a medical check and to sign his contract of two years plus one. The contract will be automatically extended to a third year if he participates in at least 50 percent of games during his second season at Panathinaikos. The Greek club, which is about to return to the Champions League this season, will pay the player over 2.5 million euros per year including bonuses, on top of paying 1.5 million euros to Arsenal and nearly 1 million euros to his agents, reports suggest. The possibility of landing such a major name in global soccer has excited Panathinaikos fans, who are already preparing a noisy welcome when he reaches the airport; they have also snapped up over 13,000 season tickets, a figure which – at such an early stage – means this will be a record year for the number of Panathinaikos season ticket holders. Gilberto Silva, 31, has won the World Cup with Brazil, in 2002, as well as the Premier League crown once and the English FA Cup twice. He has 59 caps and scored three goals with Brazil. This is the first time ever that the captain of the Brazilian national team could move to a Greek club. Panathinaikos is also chasing two more Brazilians. Its official, Jasminko Velic, has traveled to South America to conclude the transfers of two Fluminense players, 27-year-old right-back Gabriel and 31-year-old central defender Luiz Alberto, the team’s captain.
