By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Barcelona demanded from Olympiacos an immediate straight answer about the team’s intentions towards Kostas Papanikolaou on Thursday night, but no answer was given and the reason seem to be simple. The Reds haven’t decided yet what to do with the player.
After all, Papanikolaou is still tied with a 500.000 euros contract to the Euroleague champions for next season, so the leverage of Olympiacos is decisive. According to Sport24.gr Barcelona offered to the player a three million euros deal for three seasons plus 500.000 as targets’ bonus and he is asking 3,9 million euros for three seasons from the Reds, lowering his initial demands by a total of 800.000 euros. As we reported, CSKA Moscow is also in the mix, ready to make a 4,2 million euros offer, but hasn’t yet contacted Olympiacos.
So, the ball is still in Olympiacos hands. The team hasn’t made any offer to the player, fueling speculations that the preferred solution for the Greeks will be to sell him, since Barcelona is offering 1,5 million euros as a buy out. The Reds are also waiting CSKA‘s bid, while Papanikolaou himself hasn’t expressed in public how he would prefer this serial to end.