Former Celtic star Giorgos Giakoumakis is loving life in America.
The Greek has scored 17 goals in 28 matches in the MLS for Atlanta United. His new side, who he joined in February, booked their spot in the MLS play-offs recently.
And that's not the only achievement the 28-year-old has been celebrating.
Giakoumakis was today named MLS Newcomer of the year. He beat the world's greatest player Lionel Messi in the process. The Ballon d'Or winner finished runner-up.
With 17 goals, Atlanta United’s Giorgos Giakoumakis is the 2023 MLS Newcomer of the Year 🔥 (via @MLS)pic.twitter.com/bnksuTItFz
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 2, 2023
Recent reports have claimed that Giakoumakis could return to Europe, having only just left Scotland earlier this year, with interest in the star 'heating up' during the summer window.
Atlanta said at the time that the star was not for sale - and with his red-hot form in front of goal showing no signs of letting up, it's unlikely their stance will have changed.
Meanwhile, Israel boss Alon Hazan has advised Liel Abada to stay at Celtic – and claimed that the side's fans are "known to be antisemitic".
He also claimed that the Hoops' Israeli international "demanded" the Parkhead board condemn their fans' pro-Palestine displays in recent weeks.
Abada is currently sidelined and expected to be out for another couple of months after picking up a thigh injury on international duty in September.
The 22-year-old reportedly held meetings with the Parkhead board over the since-banned Green Brigade's banners and chants about the Middle East conflict. Former Celtic star Nir Bitton also vocally expressed his outrage at the supporters' group.
And Israel boss Hazan was asked in a homeland interview what advice he would give to Abada and international teammate Shon Weissman, who didn't travel last week to Granada's La Liga match against Osasuna in the Basque country for security reasons.
