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The very difficult situation that Panathinaikos has in front of him with the players that are not counted, the money that their contracts with the tax office cost until they expire, the ineffectiveness of the summer and the “thorn” with Vilena.
In addition to the acquisition of a forward who will fill the gap behind Fotis Ioannidis and will be able to support the position on his own (a move that has been “locked” for a long time), Panathinaikos has another (very important ) mission next January: The difficult “unloading” of the contracts of players who have been left out of the team, either since last summer, or much further back.
Regardless of whether or not the club made the right decisions regarding the “cuts” – with Ruben Perez there is a very strong sense of injustice, as to whether or not he could help as an extra solution in the rotation of central midfielders – the bottom line is that Panathinaikos is again called upon to manage in January the “emptying” of its roster and of course also its budget from 5 player contracts that are not counted which “cost” in total an amount that exceeds 6.6 million. euros with the payment of tax.
Specifically, the “greens” have before them a period of two and a half months until the 31stor January 2025 to find solutions with Toni Villena, Laszlo Kleinheisler, Benjamin Verbitz, Alexi Trougier and Ruben Perez, unloading their roster, but also their budget.
In an area where the technical director, Yiannis Papadimitriou, got a very low grade last summer, when the “cut” list was determined, with the only departures being the loan of Enis Tsokai to Levadeiakos (he has a contract with the “greens” until June 2026 ) and the release of Aitor, who left for AEK Larnaca only because his former technical director wanted him “clover” Xavi Roca, with Panathinaikos paying a “piece” of his contract.
The inability of Panathinaikos to unhook from the “cut” last summer has already cost him 2,330,000 euros with the tax authorities in the first half of this year’s season, concerning the salaries (and) of the 5 players until the halfway point of the season, where they are paid while remaining on the platform.
A corresponding amount for the 5 players who are not playing, Panathinaikos is asked to save (or at least will… try to save) in the transfer “window” of January. Having in front of him another – correspondingly – difficult condition: The fact that Tony Villena and Laszlo Kleinheisler are bound by contracts for the next years as well. The Dutch until the summer of 2027 and the Hungarian until June 2026.
The big “thorn” with Vilena
The biggest “thorn” of all is Vilena’s contract, which (besides the longest duration) also has the highest salary of the “cut”, i.e. 1.4 million. euros on an annual basis. The 29-year-old midfielder has received (with the tax which of course Panathinaikos covers) until June another 700,000 euros (897,400 euros gross), while his next two years reaches 2,800,000 euros or 3,589,600 euros gross until 2027!
In simple words, the Dutchman will cost the “clover” another 4,487,000 euros (including tax) over the next two and a half years. And it is crucial for Panathinaikos to be able to find a solution to such a “thrown” contract even if it has to pay (which is the most likely scenario) a part of it to leave.
The cost of the other players
Over 1 million euros (1,057,650 euros to be precise) with the tax office will cost the next 18 months and the contract of Kleinheisler, who passed and did not… rest and (most importantly) it was not possible to stay in Hajduk Split, when he was loaned last summer.
Benjamin Verbic is under contract until the summer, which will cost another €420,000 (or €534,000 at the taxman) in the second half of the season, with the Slovenian looking to leave and regain the space and playing time to win again place in his national team.
Ruben has another 275,000 euros (352,550 gross) until June, while Trouillet has the smallest contract with 150,000 euros still until the summer (192,300 gross).
And all this conversation takes place without some other players, such as e.g. Andraz Sporar, who is certain to try to find a team to leave in January.
The equation is difficult, much more difficult than transfers and renewals, but it is clear that Panathinaikos must now find solutions. And those in charge of the football department are called upon to be much more efficient this time…
*The amounts refer to the total cost with the tax office from the second half of this season
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