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The agent who first recommended Konstantinos Mavropanos to PAS Giannina, says Arsenal competed with five European clubs to sign the defender.
The Gunners penned Mavropanos to a long-term deal last month, despite him making just two appearances for Greek Super League side PAS Giannina going into the 2017-18 season.
However, his impressive performances in the first-half of this term urged the likes of Olympiakos and Udinese scramble over his signature, before Arsenal’s new head of recruitment, Sven Mislintat, rang the player’s agent to seal a deal in late December.
Vasilis Stachtiaris, Mavropanos’ representative was close to the deal, and says there was plenty of interest from elsewhere.
“Mavropanos had an agreement with Olympiakos before the Arsenal offer came in,” he told Goal. “But there were also advanced talks with Udinese. Two other teams from Spain, Eibar and Rayo Vallecano, were interested as well.
Mavropanos (left) warms up with Jack WIlshere
“We had talks with AEK Athens but the offer was low. So, Olympiakos were in pole position but he wanted mainly to play in a league abroad.”
Mavropanos is yet to make his first-team debut for Arsenal. The 20 year-old had been expected to be immediately shipped out on loan, but the club instead chose to nurture him in the youth setup.
Since then, the Greek u21 international has played for the Arsenal u23s. He’s helped the young side to a couple of clean sheets in his four starts and impressed for his new side.
