In order to join Cardiff City in the summer and leave Trabzonspor, Manolis Siopis acknowledged that he had to make a significant financial sacrifice.
In his brief time in the Welsh capital, the midfielder has solidified his place in the hearts of the fans and is likely one of the first names on Erol Bulut’s squad sheet. It’s easy to understand why the Greece international was targeted as a major summer addition.
Since Aron Gunarsson left in 2019, Cardiff has yearned for a midfielder with his bite, work ethic, and tenacity; consequently, City’s other midfield players seem to have improved as well.
However, moving to Wales proved challenging. Siopis’s contract at Turkish club Trabzonspor had one year left on it, and Cardiff was not allowed to pay player fees due to an EFL transfer embargo. It implied that Bulut would need to establish himself as a free agent in order to land his target.
Although the player was keen to move to Cardiff, the lengthy negotiations between Siopis and Trabzonspor occasionally seemed to be a “50/50” proposition, as chairman Mehmet Dalman put it. Furthermore, Siopis has now opened out about the tale that shook Turkish football during the summer.
“I expressed to [Trabzonspor] that playing in the UK was my dream.” I observed the Premier
Siopis is perhaps the player that knows Bulut the best because he was his manager at Alanyaspor, where they had a fantastic season before Fenerbahce, the Turkish powerhouse, signed him. Siopis has one piece of advice for City supporters regarding the manager: he is a winner.
“He has triumphed. He creates something in every place he goes, including clubs. We are building the greatest season in Alanyaspor’s history. We made it to the Cup final and traveled to Europe. Next, he proceeded to Fenerbahce.
“He is much different now. He has altered the approach in which he constructs the game’s build-up from behind. We didn’t have this style when we worked at Alanyaspor; today he attempts to put three The right-back enters the game from behind the players (to midfield). You must adapt if you wish to move forward.”
