'Biggest in Greece' - Armando Gonzalez's First Words as New Olympiacos Player

It has been practically confirmed for a few hours now: Armando 'La Hormiga' González is leaving Chivas to join Olympiacos F.C.

According to reports from both Greece and Mexico, the agreement fee is around $13 million, including bonuses, and Chivas will retain an estimated 20% of the player’s rights for a future sale.

González, 23, has already left Mexico and, at the time of writing this article, is on his way to Greece to sign his contract as a new Red and Whites player.

Before leaving for Piraeus, the player gave his first statements as an Olympiacos player, of course, prior to signing the contract. González said he was very happy and made it clear that his main motivation for taking this step forward in his career is not money. He said that, for him, Thrylos is the biggest club in Greece and that it is a project he likes a lot.

He told the media, "I am very happy. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to go there. Money doesn't matter to me. Olympiacos is the biggest team in Greece; I like it a lot."

For now, this has been enough for the Mexican to win the hearts of many Greek fans, but it is not the only reason they should be excited.

Reviewing La Hormiga’s numbers in the last two Liga MX short tournaments, not counting the current one, he totaled 24 goals and two assists.

In the Clausura, he maintained an expected goals rate of 0.92 per 90 minutes played and 0.85 goals per match. In the Apertura, he had an expected goals rate of 0.87 per 90 minutes and 0.91 goals.

Therefore, he is a player who, as long as he receives goal-scoring passes, is highly efficient in front of goal.

One concern among some Mexican fans online was González’s potential competition at the club managed by José Luis Mendilibar. The main names mentioned were forwards Ayoub El Kaabi and Mehdi Taremi, as well as attacking midfielder and winger Konstantinos Fortounis.

Well, these concerns have been cleared up, or should be, because apparently González will only compete with El Kaabi for the starting center forward position.

Most likely, though, he will have to start as the Moroccan’s backup, since the Moroccan has a very high status in the club’s hierarchy that he has earned over the years. Still, he is already 33, and González could be his natural successor.

As for Taremi, the Iranian is about to leave the club for the Dubai league, while Fortounis, who has just returned to the club he loves, does not play as a center forward, but rather as a winger and, on some occasions and in certain contexts, as an attacking midfielder behind the center forward.

Therefore, as of today, the only direct competition La Hormiga would have is El Kaabi.