The president of the "red and whites", Vangelis Marinakis, who was in London on Sunday, and watched the match of Nottingham Forest (which also belongs to his group), made the "gross trick". And after discussions with the Brazilian ace and his agent, the footballer was on the plane bound for Greece.

The acquisition of Willian by Piraeus is the transfer of the year for Greek football, with Piraeus fans excited by the developments. Willian's salary is expected to reach 100,000 euros per week...

The Piraeus team convinced Willian (as the Latin American winger had other proposals) and the international ace will wear the Olympiakos jersey, in the year that the biggest Greek club completes 100 years of life.

A single look at the great career of the 36-year-old Willian is enough to show the magnitude of the transfer success achieved by Olympiakos.

A transfer which proves the enormous dynamics of the Piraeus team but also the ambitions, the dreams that the club has for the future.

Because when a team dreams of major honors and manages to win a European trophy like Olympiakos, then one thing is certain.

How he does not stop dreaming of even greater successes and in order for dreams to become reality again, they need transcendence.

So, Willian was surpassed (as it had been many times in the past) and Vangelis Marinakis activated the "bomb" with the acquisition of the Brazilian ace, greatly strengthening the spirited potential of the red and whites.

The "red and whites" include in their roster a footballer who has performances from the biggest teams in the world, having even played in Europe's top league (Premier League) and with "heavy" jerseys.

When a footballer has worn the shirt of the Brazilian National Team 70 times and has played for almost 10 years in the Premier League (Chelsea, Arsenal and last year with Fulham) then the many words are "poverty".

And there are so many distinctions in the career of the Latin American ace, that not many words are needed to "recommend" the new major transfer acquisition of the Piraeus.

Everyone knows Willian very well and that is why his transfer to Olympiakos became a topic all over the world.

A transfer that sets new standards in the dynamics of the "red and whites", as Olympiakos puts on its roster a footballer - leader, a footballer who comes from a very good year in the Premier League with Fulham's jersey.

And the Brazilian's last season in the world's top league played an important role in the decision of the "red and whites" to implement this transfer, as Willian showed that he is in very good condition.

It's not just a coincidence that the Latin American winger had a key role in Fulham coach Marco Silva's plan.

Willian got a port and the world of Olympiakos is living moments of ecstasy with the big transfer.

Willian's accolades

The 36-year-old Brazilian midfielder arrived in Greece on Sunday night (1/9) and on Monday (2/9) he passed medical tests and then signed a one-year contract.

The experienced midfielder, (capped 70 times with Brazil), spent the last two years at Fulham, scoring 10 goals and providing 7 assists in 67 appearances in all competitions.

In the past he has successfully played for Chelsea (339 appearances - 63 goals), Shakhtar (221 appearances - 37 goals), Corinthians (65 appearances - 3 goals) and Arsenal (37 appearances - 1 goal).

He has also won the Premier League title twice, once the UEFA Cup and once the Europa League, while he has also celebrated the FA Cup and the League Cup with Chelsea.

"I know how big a club Olympiakos is"

As soon as Willian signed his contract, he said: "I know how big this club is and I have big ambitions. My impressions are very good. They are a top club, with a great stadium and facilities. Inside the club everyone is great, thank you so much for the warm welcome and like I said I'm excited to get started. I'm looking forward to it.

Willian was born on August 9, 1988, in Ribeirão Pires. In the last two years he played in the Premier League with Fulham (67 appearances in all competitions - 10 goals, 7 assists). Get started in his career at Corinthians, from which he transferred to Shakhtar Donetsk in 2007.

In the 5.5 years he stayed with the Ukrainian team, he won four championships, three cups and a UEFA cup, having made 221 appearances, scoring 37 goals and providing 63 assists. In January 2013, he signed for Anzhi Makhachkala, a few months later, however, he left Russia for Chelsea. With them he was crowned champion in 2015 and 2017, won an FA Cup and a League Cup, as well as the Europa League in 2019.

After 339 games, 63 goals and 62 assists, he left Chelsea but remained in London, signing for Arsenal , with which in 2020-2021 he reached the semi-finals of the Europa League, having made a total of 37 appearances (1 goal and 7 assists). In the 2021-2022 season he returned to his home country on behalf of Corinthians. Last season he played 31 times for Fulham in the Premier League, scoring four goals and providing two assists. Willian competed with the Brazilian national team in the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, while winning the Copa America in 2019.

This is a technically excellent footballer, who has amazing dribbling and if he has no problems with injuries, then he is able to change the course of a match. And to rouse the people in the stands. Willian can be the big attraction of the new Greek league but also stand out in Europe…

Manos Staramopoulos

Journalist and Analyst of International Football and Affairs

Chief Editor English Zone of Discoveryfootball.com

Athens (Greece)