Moussa Sissoko joins Panathinaikos after spells at Tottenham and Watford

From £30 Million Expectations to a Champions League Final

Signed as a blockbuster £30 million acquisition from Newcastle on deadline day of the 2016 summer transfer window, Moussa Sissoko made over 200 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur, scoring five goals. Initial expectations following an impressive Euro 2016 campaign gave way to early struggles under manager Mauricio Pochettino, who noted that a player must prove themselves on the training ground rather than relying on a price tag. Sissoko responded by transforming a sparse start to his debut term into 47 appearances across all competitions during the 2017/18 season.

Pochettino reflected on their time together, stating, “It’s with Pochettino that I learned the most.” Yet the pinnacle of his Spurs tenure brought profound heartbreak. Sissoko started against Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League final, where an early handball penalty shaped a 2-0 defeat. Reflecting on the aftermath, Sissoko shared with L’Equipe: “I was hiding in my room. It was very hard to get over it; losing in the final was painful. Even during my vacation, I was still thinking about it—and in some ways, I still am now. I can say it easily took me a month to feel better about it.” Despite the final’s outcome, he remained a valued squad member for two more seasons before departing for Watford ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

Departures, Relegation, and a Return to France

Watford secured Sissoko for a reported £3 million fee, with then-manager Xisco Munoz backing his impact: “He is a very good player and I think he would be very good for us.” Although Sissoko established himself as a regular starter, the club suffered relegation from the Premier League. Unwilling to contest the English Championship, Sissoko transferred to French club Nantes.

Explaining the rationale behind his departure, Sissoko noted, “In my head, I couldn’t see myself playing in the Championship. I wanted to be at the highest level again.” Over the subsequent two seasons, he maintained regular playing time in Ligue 1 before initiating an unexpected return to English football.

Unfinished Business and Second Spell at Watford

Sissoko returned to Watford for a second stint, rejoining a club competing in the Championship under manager Tom Cleverley, who had been a teammate during Sissoko’s initial relegation season. Cleverley highlighted the midfielder’s leadership value: “He’s going to be a key part of the squad this year. He was our best player by a stretch the last time he was here. Even though it wasn’t a successful season for the club, he was one of the positives to come out of it.”

During his second tenure, Sissoko embraced a mentoring role for younger squad members. While Watford enjoyed a strong start that placed them in the top six at the halfway point of the campaign, the team faded into a midtable finish. Following Cleverley’s departure in the summer, the club churned through multiple managers. Sissoko played under two of them before executing a transfer to Panathinaikos for a modest fee at the conclusion of the January transfer window.

Reunion with Rafa Benitez in Greece

The move to Panathinaikos reunited Sissoko with Rafa Benitez, who had previously named Sissoko captain at Newcastle United during a battle against Premier League relegation. Benitez served as the primary catalyst behind the transfer to Greece. However, the subsequent chapter has encountered competitive hurdles, marking a challenging phase for a player who spent years competing at the highest tiers of European football.

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