Celtic’s one and only new signing Camilo Duran spoke to the mainstream media yesterday afternoon, with the Celtic fan media still locked out pending a review by the club….
That review of course will never happen, until perhaps there is structural changes at Celtic but it is the least of our worries as we are just ten more sleeps away from Flag Day against Dundee with just Camilo Duran added to the squad.
Daizen Maeda set to complete move to Ipswich Town
And today we are likely to officially lose the services of talisman Daizen Maeda will is set to complete his £10m move to Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town.
Camilo Duran scored in his two pre-season matches against Sporting CP and Middlesbrough and looks like the better late than never replacement for Kyogo who has played for both Rennes and Birmingham and then moved to Los Angeles Galaxy in the time that it took Celtic to officially unveil his replacement to the mainstream hacks.
Duran’s long road to Paradise
“Adapting to Europe wasn’t easy, but I think I handled it pretty well,” Duran noted via The Herald as he reflected on his journey to Celtic via a season in Portugal’s second tier with Portimonense that earned him a move to Qarabag, having started his European adventure in Portugal’s fifth tier as a 20 year old, leaving his homeland with his family.
“It wasn’t easy leaving family behind in Colombia. I even left my partner behind for a while. It was dedication to get where I was. When I was on my own in Portugal, I had to look after myself – but I never learned how to cook!” he recalled.
The one deal Michael Nicholson got over the lineÂ
His stand-out performances for Qarabag in the Champions league last season essentially brought him to Celtic’s attention and after a few attempts at lowballing Michael Nicholson managed to get over the hurdles of Glasgow being an undesirable city, agents all being out to get him, and the hostile mainstream media twisting everything against Celtic – that’s the same media that sat listening to Duran yesterday afternoon.
God help usÂ
“I managed to score some goals in the Champions League last season, and that is what I want,” Duran told the hacks. “Everyone wants to score the goals that will get the team to the group phase of the Champions League.
“With God’s help, hopefully we can get there.”
God’s help might actually be our best bet because as things stand the transfer activity is following a similar path to last summer with excuses all we are likely to get.
Camilo Duran was apparently surprised at the lack of numbers at Celtic Park for the Middlesbrough game, as he’d watched the Hearts match at the end of last season and like everyone else was blown away by such an incredible game of football, with the Colombian noting just how impressive the Celtic Park crowd can be when they are in full voice.
“I know how impressive the fans are here,” Camilo Duran
“I know how impressive the fans are here. I watched the last league game [against Hearts] and it was crazy. I hope I can be a part of that and I want to repay the fans with my performances on the pitch.”
He was left baffled by the no-show last weekend and can expect something similar tomorrow when AC Milan are in town. This is a game that would have seen Celtic Park almost full as we take on a notable European opponent in the final match before the real business starts against Dundee a week on Monday.
Duran is also aware of the Glasgow Derby matches against the Rangers and is already looking forward to making an impact in those encounters. Being from Colombia he is well aware of how these kind of fierce rivalries work.
The Medellin El Clasico Paisa
“In Colombia we have the Medellin El Clasico Paisa between Independiente and Nacional. These are games that are played to the death. They are amazing derbies. It’s crazy – the city becomes totally paralysed!
“Independiente has always been my team. I came through the academy there so I’ve always been a fan.
“Of course I know all about the games with Rangers here. I just hope I can prepare in the best way and put in good performances in those games,” Duran stated.
Duran is the first Colombian to play for Celtic and for him it is an honour and indeed a dream come true.
“It gives me great motivation to be the first Colombian to play for Celtic,” Camilo Duran
“It gives me great motivation to be the first Colombian to play for Celtic,” he said. “It’s a dream of everyone to play for their country. No doubt, by being here at Celtic, I’m one step closer to that. Hopefully, with hard work, I can get there one day.
“Players like Luis Diaz and James Rodriguez were always big idols of mine growing up, especially Rodriguez. For me, he is the best Colombian player ever.”
Hopefully Camilo Duran can make his own reputation and be quoted with the likes of Luis Diaz and James Rodriguez as the leading Colombian players through his performances at Celtic before he is sold on of course.
Michael LowballÂ
Meanwhile for Celtic supporters the wait for our second summer signing goes on amid some seriously pathetic lowballing from Michael Nicholson threatening to derail the deal to bring German midfielder Mika Baur to the Scottish Champions.
We’ll see you next Monday Camilo!
Watch Camilo Duran’s ‘Welcome to Celtic’ mainstream media conference below….
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