FIRST CHOICE

Klimala says he knocked back Serie A interest to sign for Celts

PATRYK KLIMALA last night revealed that he knocked back serious interest from Serie A to sign for Celtic.

The 21-year-old Polish striker, a £3.5million signing from Jagiellonia Bialystok, has become Neil Lennon’s first recruit of the January window.

Paraded at Celtic Park yesterday after penning a four-and-a-half-year deal, the forward, who had been strongly linked with Genoa, said he had dismissed the advances of other potential suitors because he felt his style would be best suited to the Scottish game.

‘There were big clubs from Italy and other countries interested in me, but I don’t want to mention their names,’ said Klimala.

‘I feel my style of football is more suited to Celtic. So this is the best choice for me to make.

‘I would describe myself as a strong and fast

player. I feel I am best suited to Celtic and Scottish football. I think I will do well. ‘In terms of the pressure here, I know the fans at Celtic support the club and that is not going to overwhelm me. I’m going to do my best to get the fans’ support in every game.’ Signed to offer competition and support for Odsonne Edouard, Klimala pledged to repay the faith that Celtic boss Lennon has shown in him. ‘Being here is my biggest achievement so far in football and I am delighted to finally sign,’ he added. ‘Celtic fans are going to see a player who has come here to score a lot of goals. That is what I am planning to do and I want to bring a lot of happiness to them. ‘Scottish football is different to what I experienced in Poland. It is more aggressive but I am up for it and will do my best. ‘I have come here to win a lot of trophies with the team and I will do my best, as I said before, to bring a lot of happiness. That is my main goal.’ Theoretically in contention to make his debut in Saturday’s Scottish Cup fourth-round tie against Partick Thistle, Klimala recognises that he may have to be patient. ‘I don’t expect to be in the team after just three days,’ conceded the Polish Under-21 international. ‘However, I would love to be in the first team and I will do my best to fight for my place. ‘At the end of the day, it is the coach’s decision.’ Celtic remain in the hunt for £2m-rated Ivory Coast midfielder Ismaila Soro but the player looks like featuring for Israeli side Bnei Yehuda this weekend before his move to Parkhead is finalised. Meanwhile, Celtic have appointed Fran Alonso as the new head coach of their women’s team. The Spaniard, who arrives from Lewes FC, was formerly Ronald Koeman’s assistant at Everton and a technical coach at Southampton under Mauricio Pochettino.