CHRISTOS TZOLIS has been tipped for the top by those in Greece since he was seven years old.
And the winger has finally reached the summit after Arsenal coughed up £34million to sign him on a five-year deal from Club Brugge.
New Arsenal star Christos Tzolis has been tipped for the top since he was aged just seven Credit: PAOK
Tzolis once scored 100 goals during a single season when playing for one of PAOK’s youth teams Credit: PAOK
The hefty fee has raised a few eyebrows given that Tzolis failed to make the grade during three nightmare years at Norwich.
But those at the 24-year-old’s first club, Greek side PAOK, are not surprised and can still remember when Barcelona tried to poach him at the age of 12.
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Academy technical director at PAOK, Vasilis Mittas, told JattvibeSport: “Christos joined us at the age of seven, with qualities that set him apart.
“From the very beginning, it was clear that he was an exceptionally talented footballer.
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“Everyone who worked with Christos at the academy believed he had the potential to reach the very highest level and play for one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
“One memory that stands out goes back to our Under-12s team. As a reward for winning an international tournament, the club’s owner gave us the opportunity to play a friendly match against Barcelona at their training ground.
“We won 2-1, with Christos scoring one goal and providing an assist, playing a decisive role in the victory and producing the standout performance of the match.
“His display was so impressive that Barcelona expressed an interest in him immediately after the game.”
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Coaches at PAOK’s academy were sure that Tzolis would make it to the top Credit: PAOK
Tzolis did not sign for Barca and nor did he let the hype go to his head, even after scoring 100 goals in a single season for one of PAOK’s youth sides.
Mittas remembers the winger as being “humble and grounded”, with those traits still part of his character today.
The Greek star had a month’s holiday this summer, but spent most of it training when he learned that Arsenal were interested in him.
Mittas said: “He never caused any problems off the pitch.
“He was the type of player who would do everything possible on the pitch to help his team succeed.
“Throughout his development at the academy, he played across all three attacking positions, but what truly distinguished him was his personality.
“He possessed an incredibly strong mentality and an unwavering desire to win.”
Tzolis’ mental strength proved vital when he left PAOK in 2021 as a 19-year-old and joined Norwich for £9m.
The winger failed to take off with the Canaries and spent two of his three seasons out on loan.
Tzolis bounced back, though, and rebuilt his career with 43 goals and 45 assists in 108 games over two seasons at Brugge.
Barcelona were interested in signing Tzolis when he was just 12 years old Credit: PAOK
Staff at PAOK believe that Arsenal is the perfect place for Tzolis to shine Credit: PAOK
Mittas added: “He has always been a fighter, someone who never gives up.
“Christos was still very young [at Norwich] and had to adapt to a completely new environment, a different culture, a new language and the unique demands of English football.
“What impressed me most was the way he responded. He never allowed that difficult period to define him.
“Everyone at PAOK believed he would come back stronger, and that’s exactly what he did.
“Looking back now, those challenges made him mentally tougher and played a significant role in shaping the player he has become today.”
Now 24 and coming into his prime, Mittas believes that everyone is starting to see the player PAOK knew Tzolis could be.
He has been signed by Arsenal to play off the left flank and replace Leandro Trossard, but can operate as a No10.
Tzolis models his game on Spain legend David Villa and his eye for goal has always been a big weapon.
Mittas said: “He has the instinct of a natural goalscorer.
“In every match, he finds a way to create or exploit one or two clear goal-scoring opportunities. He combines pace, explosiveness and excellent transitional play.
“I believe Christos is a perfect fit for Arsenal’s style of play, just as he is ideally suited to the demands of the Premier League.
“He is a player with significant room for further development, and I have no doubt that working every day under a coach like Mikel Arteta will help him reach an even higher level.
“Ultimately, everything comes back to his character, work ethic and ambition. He always sets himself the highest standards and works relentlessly to achieve them.
“He is now entering what are traditionally considered the most productive years of a footballer’s career – and I firmly believe that his best football is still ahead of him.”
