Bayo’s dream is not only to score goals but to help his pal Kouassi succeed
VAKOUN ISSOUF BAYO has been brought to Celtic to score goals. However, if he can help Brendan Rodgers mould a longterm successor to Scott Brown along the way he will be doubly happy. Bayo’s £2million transfer from Slovakian side Dunajska Streda has taken the Ivorian contingent at Parkhead to three. While former Arsenal defender Kolo Toure has reverted to a coaching role, Bayo can count midfielder Eboue Kouassi as one of his oldest friends in football.
Kouassi, 21, moved to Parkhead two years ago for a similar fee and was earmarked by Rodgers to challenge Brown for the midfield anchor role. The trouble is he has been sidelined for much of his time in Scotland and is currently recovering from a cruciate knee injury, which has effectively ended his season.
As he settles into his new club, Bayo vowed to help his friend through his rehab.
‘I have known Eboue since we were in the Under-21 squad together,’ said Bayo, who is a year older.
‘He was playing in Russia at that time and we used to spend quite a lot of time together before games.
‘He is a good player. You don’t sign for Celtic otherwise and I have watched a lot more of the club since he signed because of our friendship.
‘As footballers, injury is part of our lives, it is the big enemy of any professional. But Eboue is really strong in his head and I am convinced he is going to come back.
‘If we can help each other we will because we are from the same country. There is a community feeling there.’
For Rodgers, there is no question of either mentality or talent when it comes to the midfielder. Brown is mulling over an offer that could see him move to Australia with Western Melbourne at the end of the season and Rodgers remains convinced that the player he signed from Krasnodar in 2017 remains full of potential.
‘Eboue’s been unlucky with injury and also with the form of the captain, who has been brilliant for two years,’ said Rodgers.
‘Eboue can play here. He was a couple of million euros. For a young player who had not played many games, he had talent.
‘In some of the Europa League games he was very good. I have seen him enough times to know he has the qualities. He’s like any player in that he needs regular games. He was unfortunate.
‘He has really good ability and hopefully he can come back stronger from the injury and still have a big part to play.’
Just as Bayo took a circuitous route from the Ivory Coast to Scotland via Tunisia and Slovakia, Eboue also showed enterprise to beat an unconventional trail towards prominence.
‘I love that,’ said Rodgers. ‘Eboue went to Armenia and Russia, these are kids that are hungry. They are kids you want to work with.
‘West African boys’ migration normally takes them to France and Belgium and then they go on. Didier Drogba at Chelsea was like that and Michael Essien, too.
‘The others lads have to go another route but their love of football means they go to these countries and get picked up from there and it’s then a case of shaping them on and off the pitch.
‘These kids want to improve. They are so hungry for success. To have the commitment to go to places where no people speak their language, but they want to learn and play football. I’m a big admirer of that.’
With an enhanced profile and European football on offer, it’s likely Bayo would have made the leap to Scottish football regardless of the presence of his friend. It did not hurt, however, to be able to pick up the phone for reassurance.
‘We had quite a lot of exchanges in the lead up to the transfer,’ added Bayo. ‘We spoke on the phone. I was quite busy with my wedding and Eboue was doing rehab for his knee. I asked him about the team, the group and he said it was a really good group and he encouraged me to come here.’
Bayo’s words were delivered via an interpreter and, as he attempts to hone his fitness over the next few weeks he will also embark on a course of English lessons to improve his communication skills within the Celtic squad.
‘It will take him a few weeks to get up to speed and adapt but I’m sure he will do very well,’ added Rodgers. ‘He’s a goalscorer, he has a good frame and will get stronger.
‘Kolo told me he’s a good boy. I think it’s important to bring in the right type of person. That’s always key. Kolo spoke really highly of him as a good guy. We talked through his strengths after we had watched him but Kolo could enlighten us a bit more.
‘He’s not the finished article but can develop. He has a good profile. He’s really good in the air. It will be interesting to see how he develops.’