I’ve no concerns about Celtic. It appears to be Alexandro settling in at in South Americans’ DNA
The summer transfer window has been working out excellently for Celtic after yet another positive week.
The fans all wanted Jota to commit his long-term future to their club, and he duly obliged with his £6.5 million transfer from Benfica.
After his loan spell last season, everybody is aware of what he is capable of. The Portuguese is a match winner and an entertainer.
He has an end product, and that’s what makes him such an asset to Ange Postecoglou’s team, and the fans desperate to see him.
With Jota’s arrival, the Hoops’ spending topped £10m, following the signing of Alexandro Bernabei.
The 21-year-old left-back has signed from Argentinian side Lanus, and arrives with a fine reputation.
He has been on Celtic’s radar for several months, and there is a feeling that he is going to be an excellent addition to the squad.
Ange had wanted to strengthen that area of the team, and it’s now between Alexandro and Greg Taylor to battle it out.
All managers want competition for places, and the Celtic boss is no different.
Greg may be the only one who doesn’t want the competition, as players like to have a position as their own
Greg was excellent for the Parkhead club last season, and more than played his part as they won the title and the League Cup.
But he is now going to have to step it up to another level, and Ange will be hoping that the two of them going for it will improve them both.
Indeed, Greg may well be the only one that doesn’t want the competition, as players like to have a position as their own.
It’s the same with the current incumbent of the No. 9 jersey, or the goalkeeper in residence.
They don’t want to be threatened by someone. But that’s the way it needs to be.
Successful teams need to have two players fighting for every position.
For Alexandro to choose to come to Scotland at such a young age tells you a lot about his desire and attitude.
But you never can predict, with any great certainty, how a player is going to do.
As is the case with every signing – whether he is from Argentina, Aberdeen or Accrington – you can only hope it all works out well for everybody involved.
But my view is that South Americans embrace the challenge of playing in Europe.
They seem to want to come over here and do well. It’s in their DNA.
However, some players just can’t settle,
and that is unfortunate. The club and the individual can give it their all, but it doesn’t click.
That, though, hasn’t happened under Ange at Celtic.
Just about every one of his signings has produced, and made a worthwhile contribution.
From Kyogo Furuhashi to Cameron Carter-vickers to Joe Hart and Liel Abada, they have all looked the part, and been fantastic value for money.
Celtic supporters will be hoping Alexandro is another name that will be quickly added to that lengthy list, even though he’s 7,000 miles from home.
I never had to move to the other side of the world to play football. When I left Celtic, it was just a few miles down the road to Liverpool.
But I guess it will present different challenges for Alexandro, and the lad has to overcome them.
What he won’t have to worry about is not being looked after by the football club. Off the park, everything will be in place for him to succeed.
They will show him nice properties to look at, open bank accounts
and recommend coffee shops and restaurants.
The players will make him feel welcome, and it will be good for him to be away at the training camp in Austria for 10 days or so to really bond.
He will befriend them all, and build a close bond with two or three of them. That’s what usually happens.
I’m sure Callum Mcgregor will make sure all of the new signings have to go through their “initiation” and choose their karaoke song, or whatever.
That’s all good fun, and brings the lads closer together.
Alexandro is also joining a club that is in a really happy place. My goodness, they are the champions.
If they are not feeling good about themselves and on top of the world at this stage, then they never will be.
He is walking into a club that has signed well in this window, and looking forward to guaranteed Champions League football. It’s fantastic.
Yes, right now, it’s all looking extremely positive at Celtic. Let’s see how the others respond.
It’s already looking very, very interesting.