Athens was the surprise destination for James Penrice when the much-coveted left-back departed Heart of Midlothian in the summer after one storming season in Gorgie.
The Scot had to do some settling in, but he is now a regular starter in the league fixtures and often comes off the bench in Europe.
Serbian striker Luka Jovic cost Real Madrid a reported £52m in 2019 after a scorching season for Eintracht Frankurt.
It did not work out for him at the Bernabau, with just three goals in 51 appearances, and similarly barren spells at Fiorentina and AC Milan followed.
Albanian goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha was very highly thought of at Lazio before a failed move to Brentford. You may remember former Liverpool and Porto midfielder Marko Grujic, always threatening to make it big but not quite managing.
The long blond hair of defender Domagoj Vida will be recognisable from Croatia’s runs to World Cup finals and semi-finals, while Argentine midfielder Roberto Pereyra sticks out from Watford’s spell in the English Premier League a few years ago.
Joao Mario is another who the sticker collectors might remember, a constant in the Portugal squad over the last few years. He, however, is not in the squad.
Head coach Matias Almeyda was replaced with former Lokomotiv and CSKA Moscow boss Nikolic after last season’s fourth-place finish in the Greek Super League.
It was all going pretty well until last weekend. They were unbeaten in their first six league games but lost to PAOK on Sunday in the catchy ‘Double-Headed Eagles Derby’.
AEK will be hurting from that and Thelin will have to be wary of a reaction from both players and supporters.
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