Hwang Ui-jo's agent releases statement to clarify player's status at Olympiacos

Following reports in the media that Hwang Ui-jo has been "relegated" to the Olympiacos B team, his agency CAA Base has moved to clarify the situation.

CAA Base denies that Hwang Ui-jo has been relegated to the B team at Olympiacos, instead, this is all in the name of rotation in order to keep the team competitive and ward off any fatigue and avoid injuries.

In addition, the club believes in him and the player himself is thankful for the trust that has been shown to him and that he will continue to work hard for the team.

Full statement: 

“It is simply not true that Uijo was training with the B team! Olympiacos is a big club which is going through a transition period of changing coaches and players. There is a big squad and many matches squeezed in before the World Cup, so it is normal for players to be rotated in order to keep the team competitive and manage injuries/fatigue. 

"Uijo is on loan for one season from Premier League side Nottingham Forest, who acquired him for an important transfer fee after being one of the best players in France’s Ligue 1. Therefore, it is clear the ownership believe in him and want the best for him! Uijo is thankful for the trust and will continue to work hard and improve to help Olympiacos achieve their targets and make the fans happy."

- Christian Emile of CAA Base agency, agent of Uijo Hwang

Hwang Ui-jo had been on the books at FC Girondins de Bordeaux for the last three years, where he scored 29 and assisted seven in 98 appearances, but following the club's relegation to the French second tier, Nottingham Forest snapped him up for a reported £3 million.

Forest then loaned him out to Olympiacos for the 2022-2023 season, joining up with fellow South Korean international Hwang In-beom, and has so far featured nine times for the club, including four appearances in the Europa League. 

Hwang began his career at K League side Seongnam FC in 2011 where he won the FA Cup in 2014 and featured in the AFC Champions League the following year - scoring three and assisting two in eight appearances, before moving to J.League outfit Gamba Osaka. 

The 30-year-old is expected to be named in Paulo Bento's South Korea squad for the World Cup in Qatar, having been a regular fixture since the Portuguese took over in 2018.

한국어

“황의조 선수가 2군으로 강등당했다는 것은 사실이 아님을 알려드립니다. 올림피아코스는 현재 코치진 및 선수단을 교체하며 변화를 겪고 있는 상황입니다. 카타르 월드컵 전까지 많은 경기들을 짧은 시간 내에 치러야 하고, 큰 규모의 스쿼드를 가지고 있는 팀입니다. 이런 환경에서 팀의 경쟁력을 유지하고 선수들의 부상 및 피로도 관리를 위해서는 선수 로테이션은 자연스러운 일입니다. 

황의조 선수는 구단의 신뢰에 보답하고자 하는 의지를 갖추고 있습니다. 앞으로도 열심히 노력해 올림피아코스가 이루고자 하는 목표를 달성하는 데 도움이 될 수 있도록, 그리고 팬들을 기쁘게 만들 수 있게 하고자 합니다."

크리스티안 에밀, CAA Base