Former MLS Man Cristian Casseres Jr. Decides Against Joining Olympiacos

A report by Les Violets confirms that Toulouse's Cristian Casseres Jr. has turned down a move to Olympiacos this summer. 

Despite an offer worth €10 million plus bonuses on the table, the Venezuelan international was seen in the training grounds of Toulouse on Wednesday, as he has decided to wait, thus putting an end to all those developments linking him with Olympiacos.

We at Roundtable reported on an agreement between the two clubs for his transfer. The Ligue 1 side dropped their demands to €10 million during this window after a pricey asking price in the last few months. Toulouse had also secured the signing of Thomas Jørgensen from Viborg FF, and this announcement further fuelled reports of an imminent transfer for Casseres to Thrylos. 

Right now, it is being revealed that the Red and Whites never had any kind of verbal agreement on personal terms with the 26-year-old, who is keen on staying in Toulouse for the time being. Even if the French side accepts Olympiacos' bid to sign the midfielder, the transfer will not proceed since he has the final say. Casseres has a contract with Toulouse until the summer of 2027. 

Casseres has given the nod to Les Violets head coach Jens Berthel Askou to name him in the starting eleven for the French top-flight match against Olympique Lyonnais with Alexis Vossah injured. 

The Olympiacos management is expected to be gutted after hearing this news, especially since they toned down their efforts to sign Sporting CP's Daniel Braganca and Real Racing Club's Gustavo Puerta to accommodate the former MLS side New York Red Bulls man. However, with time still left in the transfer window, Evangelos Marinakis' representatives can be expected to renew contact with the Portuguese and Spanish sides to secure their respective players. 

Casseres' rejection of a move to Piraeus is considered to be a last-minute change of heart, as everything was done to streamline his transfer, including Olympiacos submitting a higher-than-usual offer to Toulouse to bring him to the club. The Greek giants are set to shuffle their midfield pack ahead of the new season, but as things stand, they might have to go with their current squad without any new engine-room reinforcements when they face Atromitos on the first matchday of the Greek Super League season. 

Developments are set to progress in the Braganca and Puerta fronts soon, and we keep updating this space whenever any news arrives.