Watch crazy moment ex-Celtic star Giakoumakis gets ATTACKED by new team-mates in initiation ahead of Atlanta Utd debut

GIORGOS GIAKOUMAKIS has been made to wait for his MLS debut with Atlanta United.

But he has also been delaying the inevitable - and unavoidable - club initiation test.

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The Greek striker's move from Celtic rumbled on beyond the end of January as the transfer window closed in Scotland.

But US teams were still able to deal and Giakoumakis sealed his stateside switch ealry last month.

Then he hit another hold-up as immigration red-tape delayed his appearance in the Georgia side's colours.

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But with paperwork finalised and training sessions complete he is all set to don the red and black shirt and face Toronto FC this weekend.

He may have been missing from action since scoring in the closing stages of the Viaplay Cup semi-final - but he looked fresh and fit in pictures released by Atlanta United this week.

The behind the scenes footage also reveals a bizarre and BRUTAL ritual for the new signing - one that he's perhaps lucky to pass unscathed.

Giakoumakis was forced to run a gauntlet of his team-mates ahead of his debut weekend and leaping over their lunges he made it through the group unscathed.

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Team-mates aimed PUNCHES and threw footballs at the forward as he dodged the blows ahead of his unveiling at the Mercedes Benz Stadium.

Giakoumakis finished last season joint-top scorer in the cinch Premiership but was routinely left out of the Ange Postecoglou's Celtic starting line-up.

However the Greek angered Scottish football by taking a brutal swipe at the standards in the SPFL as he signed a four-year contract in America.

He said: "The competition there is not so good.

"There are two clubs, and all the other clubs try to defend. Most of the opponents were trying to block us in their box, we were keeping possession and trying to create spaces, score in a different way.

"I think this league is a bit more competitive, they all try to play, so I think I will even more space in the back of their defence and create more problems."

The Greek forward had joined the Hoops in September 2021 from VVV Venlo and was replaced by Korean ace Oh Hyeon Gyu at Parkhead.

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page