Greek football club Olympiacos has decided not to pursue a move for Hakim Ziyech after initially expressing interest last summer, according to local media reports.
Olympiacos head coach José Luis Mendilibar said that “he prefers players who commit fully to pressing and defensive duties, a role Ziyech, the 31-year-old Moroccan midfielder, is not known for.”
Mendilibar’s assessment suggests that Ziyech would need to significantly improve his defensive contribution, particularly in terms of marking, something the player has not consistently demonstrated in the past.
The club’s decision was also influenced by financial concerns. Ziyech’s salary demands, reportedly exceeding 3 million euros, were deemed too high, and Olympiacos is hesitant to commit to such a contract again after the challenges experienced with Brazilian winger Willian.
The Greek outlet Sportime mentioned that Olympiacos had been alerted to Ziyech’s injury history, which further contributed to the club’s decision to step away from negotiations.