Barkas concedes he would rather play as defender
CELTIC target Vasilis Barkas has revealed he hates being a goalkeeper and would rather play as a defender.
The Premiership champions appear to be edging closer to snapping up the 26-year-old AEK Athens star in a £5million deal to replace Fraser Forster, who is set to remain with Southampton.
Barkas was linked earlier this year with a £7m move to Roma after impressive displays for AEK. And, in an interview last month, the Greek international revealed that although he has enjoyed the plaudits for his performances, he would rather play as an outfield player.
He said: ‘I don’t like playing as a goalkeeper. It’s not fun to play in that position.
‘If I had the choice, I would play as a defender or as a midfielder. In fact, when I am training with Greece, I play left-back in practice sessions.
‘I actually became a goalkeeper by mistake. I went for trials in Kolonos when I was a kid and the coach put me in goal because he had enough players, even though I was short then.
‘The pitch was a dirt surface and had no grass. I came back covered in cuts and bruises.
But from there I got spotted and went to Atromitos for trials and I continued from there.
‘Strikers are paid to score goals and my job is not to concede. But when you play at the top level, the feeling you had as a child is lost. You are paid for a purpose.’
And Barkas admitted he dreams of playing in a top league one day after the interest from Roma eventually evaporated.
He said: ‘There was nothing specific from Roma and there were other teams interested in me, too. My father deals with that side of things.
‘I am happy at AEK and I am not pushing for a transfer. I am already at a big team.
‘If I went abroad, I would like to sign for a club in England, Germany or Italy. It wouldn’t be an easy step but I would like to do it one day.’