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Karagounis returns to Panathinaikos

UEFA EURO 2004™-winning midfielder Georgios Karagounis is back at Panathinakos FC on a free transfer from SL Benfica after leaving Athens in 2003.

UEFA EURO 2004™ winner Georgios Karagounis has returned to Panathinakos FC on a free transfer from SL Benfica after leaving the Athens club in 2003.

Three-year deal
The 30-year-old midfielder, who has been capped 63 times, has signed a three-year contract with the team that finished third in last season's Greek Super League as they prepare for action in the first round of the UEFA Cup. Karagounis left Panathinaikos originally to join FC Internazionale Milano, going on to win the 2004/05 Italian Cup before moving on to Benfica after two seasons in Italy.

Senegalese signing
Karagounis' arrival follows hot on the heels of Panathinaikos's signing of Senegalese attacking midfielder Dame N'Doye from Benfica's Liga rivals A. Académica de Coimbra. The 22-year-old has signed a four-year contract after scoring four goals in 25 league appearances for Académica in Portugal last season - his first in Europe since leaving Dakar side ASC Jeanne d'Arc.

Busy summer
After replacing Víctor Muñoz, Panathinakos' new Portuguese coach José Peseiro has made four signings for the coming campaign, having earlier brought in 27-year-old Polish goalkeeper Arkadiusz Malarz from Skoda Xanthi FC and Greek Under-19 international Elini Dimoutsos from Ilisiakos FC. Panathinaikos started pre-season training on Monday.

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