PAO's Former GM: We Wanted Olympiacos' Star, But We Lacked the Courage

Panathinaikos' former sporting director Sani Becirovic has revealed a missed transfer move from his 2023-2025 tenure. Speaking as a guest on Arena Sport TV, Becirovic talked about Jean Montero, the playmaker who now plays for Olympiacos after a spell with Valencia.

Becirovic recalled that Panathinaikos was looking for a new solution after Luca Vildoza's injury. He said an agent had offered Montero's transfer, but neither head coach Ergin Ataman nor he himself had the courage to convince the chairman that this player was a long-term investment.

According to the executive, the club needed immediate results at that time. Becirovic acknowledged that Montero has since proven his quality over three years, and said he did not push the matter further back then, admitting that he fell short on this issue.

The comments also highlighted the difficult balance between Panathinaikos' goal of returning to its former glory and the pressure for short-term results.