TALKING CELTIC
PATRICK ROBERTS looks certain to return to parent club Manchester City this summer after a successful 18-month spell in Glasgow, but the winger believes Moussa Dembele still has unfinished business with Celtic.
The 20-year-old French forward has been forced to accept a premature end to what has been an i mpressive inaug-ural season in Glasgow with 32 goals across the board.
The manner of Dembele’s performances as well as where he harvested some of those goals have maintained the attention of some of Europe’s premier clubs.
Celtic, though, remain steadfast that they will resist any overtures for the services of the forward this summer. Should there be an offer that proves particularly tempting for both parties it may well be that an agreement is reached that the club will negotiate the notoriously treacherous group stages of the UEFA Champions League before there is any parting of the ways.
Roberts was part of Dembele’s youth team at Fulham when the pair featured against Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup final three seasons ago and he believes the striker is in no rush to go anywhere.
“I haven’t been surprised at the impact Moussa had up here,” said Roberts. “I always knew he was quality.
“He has his feet on the ground. He has shown this season what he can do and I think he is pretty settled here. He loves the club, he loves playing football and I think he feels there is still a lot for him to achieve with Celtic.
“It is up to Moussa what he does next. That will be between him and the club but I know how much he loves playing here and how much he rates the manager and the team.”
Roberts himself is coy on his immediate future although the expectancy is that he will try his hand to force a move into Pep Guardiola’s side this summer.
The winger has made a contribution this term with his display against Rangers on Sunday at Hampden indicative of the quality he carries.
Finding the consistency in performances has been the inevitable challenge of his loan deal but the player believes he has blossomed with exposure to first-team football at Celtic.
“I am definitely more aware and a maybe a bit more streetwise for the experience,” he said.
“It has been brilliant and I have loved every minute of being at Celtic.
“It is an amazing club. I have made good friendships here and I have won things which is what every player wants to do. I am young, I am hungry and I feel like I have learned so much here.
“The manager has been brilliant with me this season and it has just been so good to be part of what feels like a special season.” T REMAINS to be seen whether Roberts will be available for Celtic’s William Hill Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen on May 27.
Roberts was part of the side that reached the FIFA Under-20 World Cup finals in South Korea, and the youngsters are set to face Argentina on May 20, followed by games against Guinea and the host nation.
Roberts was diplomatic in the face of queries about what his preference would be – “it is a privilege for me to play for my country and to play for Celtic so it is someone else who has to make the call” – and it remains to be seen who takes priority.
The formal squad list for the tournament is due to be submitted to FIFA on May 8, with Roberts and Celtic possibly kept waiting until then before getting confirmation that he can go ahead and play for in the final.
For now, though, the player
He loves the club, he loves playing football. I think he feels there is still a lot for him to achieve with Celtic. It is up to Moussa what he does next