Panathinaikos initiates roster overhaul and budget reallocation

Panathinaikos has announced a series of departures as part of a strategic plan to reorganize its budget for the upcoming season. On Friday, the club confirmed the termination of agreements with players on loan, including Renato Sanches, Lafont, and Javi Hernandez. Additionally, contracts for players Kotsiras and Djuricic, which had expired, were not renewed. Defender Javi Hernandez will return to his parent club, Leganes, as he was deemed surplus to requirements by head coach Jacob Neestrup. This decision follows an internal assessment led by club management and Neestrup, aimed at rectifying previous financial mistakes and reducing disproportionately high wage costs. The saved funds are intended to be reinvested into a more targeted and structured recruitment process. This shift in financial management seeks to improve the balance between player expenditure and on-field contribution compared to the previous season.