GLOSA: Olayinka was a symbol of a successful era, his departure will hurt Slavia for several reasons
Whether Olayinka leaves now in winter or waits until summer, nothing will change in his position. Three championship titles, two triumphs in the domestic cup, participation in the basic group of the Champions League, two campaigns in the quarter-finals of the Europa League and one in the quarter-finals of the Conference League. On top of that, the status of the red and white’s all-time top scorer in European cups. Not just anyone fills their life with such variety and interest.
Olayink’s entire stage in Vršovice should also culminate in a dignified and cultured departure. No one (hopefully) will lower himself to the point. The Ibadan native deserves recognition, he has done valuable service in four and a half years (maybe five years if he stays in the spring).
His departure will hurt Slavia. The people managing the club treasury will be sad. Olayinka came to Eden in the summer of 2018 from Ghent for more than eighty million crowns, the club spent tens of millions more on his salary. Of course, it helped to achieve success and decent cup profits, and it is more of a philosophical debate whether it paid off in quotes.
We are delighted to announce that striker Peter Olayinka has signed a pre-contract agreement to join us on a free transfer from Slavia Prague on 1 July. The Nigerian striker will sign a three-year contract with an option for another year. 🇳🇬 #fkcz pic.twitter.com/f3ol3i6HM5
— FK Crvena zvezda in English (@crvenazvezda_en) January 9, 2023
However, even so, it is very unpleasant for the stitchers that he will leave for free or for a minimal amount, if he were to go to Belgrade during January. It does not mitigate the fact that similar transfers are quite common in Europe. In the past, there was interest in him elsewhere in Europe, for example, the names of Bundesliga participants Leverkusen or Stuttgart were mentioned, and millions were being talked about. A transfer to FC Copenhagen in August 2021 failed because Olayinka did not pass a medical. Nothing clicked, for the stitched trade of the four-time representative of Nigeria, it could certainly have turned out better.
It is a question of how much the 27-year-old player wanted to commit to a new participation and how willing he was to negotiate a new contract in Slavia. And at the same time, the question is how active Slavia was, what she offered him and whether she responded in time. However, as strange as Crvene zvezda’s choice may seem, Olayinka had every right to do so. Thanks to the fact that his contract at the Vršovice club ends in the summer, he was in a very advantageous position, which logically gave him financially lucrative options.
Trpišovský’s team will of course have to deal with weakening on the pitch and in the cabin. Olayinka was a member of the starting line-up, one of the captains and true leaders. In the summer, after the defeat in the first match of the Conference League play-off in Częstochowa Raków, he had a more emotional speech, right away in Poland the team was cheering for revenge.
Moreover, Trpišovský does not currently have a better left wing available. The Brazilian Ewerton is still searching after the summer transfer from Mladá Boleslav, Ivan Schranz missed a significant part of the autumn due to a head injury and will now return. Oscar can find an application, or back David Jurásek can pull out. However, there will probably not be a 100% replacement in this position right away.