In the summer of 2024, AEK made many expensive transfers. Few gave what was expected at the club. One of them is Abubakari Koita. AEK paid 4 million euros (3.6 million euros as a fixed amount and another 400,000 euros in the form of bonuses) to Sid Truiden in an investment that had high expectations when it was made. Finally last season, Koita… lost in scattered participations and some with a few minutes from Matias Almeidas, he showed almost nothing on the pitch. AEK is disappointing, missing the Moor who also had a big contract close to 1 million euros per year. In general… reflection.
The speedy winger, with his excellent 1vs1 efficiency, powerful shot and ability to create cracks, has finally found a role for Marko Nikolic this season. It’s not just the numbers, it’s also the image, the effectiveness of the 27-year-old on the field.
The image of Coitas, even better than his numbers
2 goals and 4 assists last year in 1,550 minutes, in 30 appearances. This year to date and with big/critical demanding games in Super League and Conference League to go, the Moor already has 7 goals, 4 assists in 2,600 minutes in 44 matches (he has only lost one!). But how he helps AEK in the press, in the change of rhythm with intensity and speed and how influential he is in their game with earned fouls, penalties, with cracks in the opposing defense, is not… measured in numbers. Whether he plays on the left in attack where he is more comfortable, he saw on the right, as with Kifissia.
In finishes and dribbles, his numbers are impressive, his goals critical and highly influential in AEK’s big results, especially in the Conference League. As with Anderlecht, as in Samsuda, as in Celje. In the championship, he gave the difficult victory in Livadia and put AEK in front of the score in Harilaou. Everything he does helps a lot, at the point in time he does it. And Nikolic appreciates this, for this reason and apart from his punishment he has played in all AEK matches in all competitions.
This year’s Koita finally found his role, found exactly what his coach wants in the attack and justifies the big investment made in 2024 by the new management of AEK. His contract ends in 2029 and certainly if he makes a worthy finale to this season, there will be interest from abroad for the 27-year-old Moorish.
Athletiko.gr