LET ME FRONT UP WITH EDDY
CELTIC MICHAEL GANNON
FROM BACK PAGE with Edouard. The Switzerland ace said: “I have seen some of Odsonne’s games and I think he and I could be a good match.
“We could be perfect together. If you have two quite good strikers, it’s always good for a team.
“Celtic have always played attractive football. We will both be in the box, always there where it can be dangerous.
“I might be a different striker than he is but I think it’s a good match.
“I spoke to the manager on the phone before I signed and he told me he knows my qualities and what kind of striker I am.
“He believes I can fit perfectly in this team and this was a main reason for me to sign for Celtic.”
Ajeti was thrilled to be handed the No.10 jersey with Celts and he is aware it’s a magic number this year. He said: “I know it’s a huge season for Celtic and Scottish football.
“I know what this means to take the No.10 shirt and the significance of the number this year. I am very positive about this season and looking forward to what is ahead.
“We will do our best to reach our goals at the end of the season.”
Ajeti spent a year at West Ham but aims to settle in Glasgow after signing a long-term deal.
He said: “I have signed for four years and I want to be at a club like this for that time.
“I want to share all the great moments with the top fans and the top players. That is why I came to Celtic and I want to be here for a very long time.”
The Swiss striker believes the Hoops move can boost his international hopes. He has 10 caps for his country and is keen to add to his tally.
The former £8m West Ham signing said: “It was important for me to go to a club where I would be able to develop myself and stay over many years.
“Celtic was the perfect club for me. We have big games coming up for Switzerland but this will be a good club for me.”
Ajeti has just returned from a short break but he insisted he is ready to be pitched straight into Celtic’s Champions League qualifier against Reykjavik next week.
He said: “I’ve been on my holidays, but I’ve been working with a personal trainer so I have been keeping myself sharp. I think I’m ready.”
Hoops boss Lennon admitted he was thrilled to land the frontman after trying to sign Ajeti last summer before the Hammers stepped in.
He said: “We are delighted to bring Albian to Celtic. He is a tremendous player, an international with real quality.
“I have admired him for long time as he is a really intelligent footballer and a really good finisher. We hope he has a long and prosperous career here.”
ALBIAN AJETI reckons it was a breeze knocking back Barcelona – but he couldn’t say no to Celtic.
The Swiss striker completed his £5million move from West Ham and revealed he snubbed the chance to make the switch to the Nou Camp as a kid.
Ajeti and his twin brother Adonis spent a few days with the Catalan giants when they were teenagers but decided to stick with Basel instead.
The attacker is not a man who takes big decisions lightly and he spent a week weighing up his future before a chat with Neil Lennon got the deal over the line.
Ajeti said: “Yes, Barcelona wanted me and my twin brother when we were 16.
“They were interested in signing the both of us. It wasn’t a trial but we went over for a couple of days and were shown around the Barcelona academy and trained with them.
“But in the end we decided to stay in Switzerland with the Basel academy.
“People say it’s hard to say no to Barcelona but not at that age, to be fair.
“When you are young you want to be with your family, with your brothers and friends, so it wasn’t that hard to say no.
“My brother was keen to do it but in the end we decided to keep going with what we were doing in Switzerland. It worked out well for us.”
It was harder to turn down Celtic after the big sell from Lennon and Nicky Hammond.
Ajeti said: “For me it was important that the boss and the sporting director Nick Hammond showed me a lot of interest.
“It was also important for me to feel like I would be an important player if I was going to sign for as big a club as Celtic.
“This was important. But when you have a chance to play for them, with all the tradition they have and the history of this football club and the fans they have, I am happy.”
Ajeti is looking forward to starring with his former Basel pal Moi Elyounoussi – but old pal Cedric Itten is off the Christmas card list.
The pair came through the same academy and were close mates. But Ajeti insists they are now the best of enemies following Itten’s move to Rangers and his switch to Celts.
He said: “We were good friends in the academy so it is weird that we are rivals now. But this is football.
“Will I meet up with him in Glasgow? Well, I don’t think so!
“I know Moi, obviously. We had a chat and he tried to get me to sign for Celtic.
“It wasn’t needed though. I m.gannon@dailyrecord.co.uk didn’t need to be persuaded to sign for such a big club. We spoke more about the city and the life here in Glasgow.”
Ajeti may have taken a few days to decide to get on board but he’s determined to make up for lost time after a frustrating season at West Ham following his £8m move from Basel last summer.
The 23-year-old had high hopes when he landed in London but boss Manuel Pellegrino was punted and David Moyes was fighting fires at the foot of the Premier League table. Ajeti got lost in the wash and made just nine sub appearances all season.
But, just like the Barca decision, the hitman has no regrets and insisted Celtic are getting a better player after his year with the Hammers.
Ajeti added: “It was a good experience. I would say this was a year of learning, of improving