Giovanni no-show rocks Olympiakos

Greek League-leaders Olympiakos face an embarrassing New Year wait for their Brazilian striker Giovanni, who has yet to return from a Christmas holiday in South America.

The former Barcelona star is one of four South Americans at the club but countrymen Ze Elias and Luciano De Sousa both returned to training before Friday – along with Uruguay international Gabriel Alvez.

Sources at the club claim not to have heard anything from the Brazil star but officials refused to confirm if he faces any disciplinary action when he arrives in Athens.

The no-show is just the latest in a line of problems involving the forward whose troubled season has seen him banned for insulting the coach, dropped for poor form and latterly sidelined through a mysterious injury.

However, clear-the-air talks before Christmas with managing director Petros Kokkalis finished with both sides declaring themselves happy.

Giovanni joined Olympiakos from Barcelona in 1999 and enjoyed a successful start to his Greek career.

However, things have not gone too smoothly this season and in November the striker threw his shirt at the then manager Yiannis Matzourakis after being substituted against Lyon in a Champions’ League game.