Oh my days will be spent here at Celts .. our fans love me and I love them .. I’m going nowhere
SAYS JEREMIE FRIMPONG
Manchester City might have a plethora of multi-million pound talent at their disposal.
But you have to wonder if someone, somewhere on Pep Guardiola’s staff was a tad hasty in allowing Jeremie Frimpong to leave the Etihad.
Granted, Celtic’s new buzz bomb of a right-back was competing with the likes of Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo for a light blue shirt.
But such is the impact he’s made at Parkhead, the English champions could rue the day they let him go.
The 18-year-old Dutchman hasn’t just added his considerable ability to Neil Lennon’s side.
He’s given an already-impressive Hoops team energy and personality – and a new catchphrase.
His ‘Oh my days’ quote on TV after the Betfred Cup Final went viral online.
So much so that there’s now a range of merchandise with the phrase on it to embed his cult status with fans.
It was his expression of relief at winning his first medal in Scotland – despite being sent off for giving away a penalty that Fraser Forster saved from Alfredo Morelos to secure a 1- 0 win.
At the moment, Frimpong is keeping experienced defenders like Moritz Bauer and Hatem Elhamed out of the team.
It’s no wonder his manager raves about him. On the pitch, he’s already a hero to Celtic supporters.
And off it, if he’s not coining his very own catchphrase, he’s coming up with celebratory dance moves for him and Ryan Christie.
Frimpong has been a revelation since his move north.
But would the thought of a return to the Premier League and City in the future be appealing?
Not a chance, according to the likeable teenager.
He said: “No, I’m at Celtic and this is where I’m staying. The fans love me and I love them so I’m staying here.
“When I came here I wanted to win trophies and Celtic are the right team to do that with. I thought I’d have to wait a while. I didn’t think everything would happen this quick.
“But I always knew that one day I’d prove myself. I want to keep doing it for the fans and my team-mates.
“Obviously the club brought in two experienced guys at right-back so I thought I’d have to wait. But when you get your chance you have to take it.”
Frimpong has grabbed his and is now a big character in the dressing-room.
Unlike his time in Manchester, he’s mobbed by Celtic fans whenever he’s out in Glasgow and Frimpong is taking it all in his stride. He said: “With my personality, everywhere I go, the atmosphere will be good.
“I’m good with people in general. “The captain here likes me, which is good. The whole team have been great with me. They put on the group chat recently that I was taking my driving test and they were going to put up if I passed or failed!
“So when I passed, I was like: ‘ Yes’! So I’m driving up to training now and living in Glasgow. Life is easier.”
“I like to talk and I like their banter. The fans here are amazing.
“When I’m out in town, they’ll be like:
‘ Oh, that ’s Jeremie Frimpong’. So I’ll stop and have a chat with them.
“They’ll ask me how I’m finding it here but it’s all good.
“When I was walking around Manchester I could just mind my own business. Now, it ’s like: ‘ Jeremie, Jeremie’. It’s different, man, but it’s cool.
“With the catchphrase, last week I got sent a cup, a phone case and a t-shirt saying ‘Oh my days’ on it!
“That’s just how I speak. Everyone who knows me is aware of that but it’s just become a thing.
“A fan messaged me online and asked where he could send the stuff so it arrived at the training ground. And as for the celebration against Hearts with Ryan, it was him who came to me and said: ‘Let’s do the Raheem Sterling’.
“I wasn’t sure about it but we did it so quickly. Hey, we’ve got some new ones coming up and they will be more fun, 100 per cent.”
Frimpong is definitely a character. His positive outlook is refreshing and his career is clearly on an upward trajectory.
But after being a 16- year- old at City, who was forced to play wit h thei r under-15 side,
Last week I was sent a t-shirt, a cup and a phone case with ‘Oh my days’ on them. That’s how I speak ... it’s just become a thing. And as for the celebration against Hearts with Ryan, he said: ‘Let’s do the Raheem Sterling’. Hey, we’ve some new ones coming up and they will be more fun
the Amsterdam-born star had to fight to stay there.
That’s where the support of his Manchester-based family – who will be in Glasgow for Christmas – has played an important role in his development.
Frimpong said: “There were a few times I got down.
“When I was younger, when the City youth team were going to Holland or Germany for a tournament, I wouldn’t get picked.
“I was playing under-16s at City but one time they made me play for the under15s. So things like that were hard to deal with.
“There was another time I was crying after I wasn’t picked for a tournament.
“But I never doubted that I would make it. I’ve been doing this my whole life so I always believed.
“It ’s fair to say that education was not for me – so it had to be football!
“I’ve got lots of brothers down in Manchester. My mum, brothers, my agent, every time I have a match, they come through.
“And they’re coming here for Christmas so I won’t be myself. They’ve always believed in me. They always told me just to go and do it. They knew I could and that was exciting for me.
“Were they apprehensive about me moving to Celtic? Yeah, they were at first, but it was my choice.
“I knew it was best for me and they agreed with my decision.”
The one drawback to his time at Celtic so far was Frimpong’s inel igibi l ity for the Europa League after not being registered in Lennon’s original squad.
He’ll be added to the Hoops pool for their last-32 clash with FC Copenhagen and can’t wait to follow in the footsteps of idols like Robinho and Memphis Depay by playing in Europe.
Frimpong said: “I can’t wait for that when it comes but we have big matches to play in first.
“I started off as a winger so my heroes were Depay – I used to like him a lot in Holland and looked up to him – and I always watched Robinho’s clips as well.
“I want to play international football too. I’ve played for the Dutch Under-20s but hopefully I’ll get called up for the under-21s – that would be great.”
I’m good with people .. I like to talk and I like their banter. Fans here are amazing