Marc Crosas: I wasn't a player any more- I was a fan
The Catalan midfielder left for FC Volga last week but knew that his hoops career was over when Celtic went to Ibrox in the Scottish Cup at the start of the month.
Crosas was the first substitute to celebrate Georgios Samaras’ opening goal at Ibrox on January 2 but knew that his playing days were over when he returned to the same ground a month later as a supporter.
“There did come a point when I began realising the writing was on the wall,” he admitted. “We went to Ibrox for the Scottish Cup game and I knew, deep down, I’d be in the stand. I sat and realised I had just become a Celtic fan.
“I wasn’t a player any more. I was working all week but come the weekend I was going along to support Celtic.
“I’m passionate about football and can watch it all the time but I have the gift many others don’t – the chance to play football for a living – and I want to do that.
“Barca is special to my heart but Celtic is something else. It tells you everything that it was harder leaving Celtic than Barcelona.
“My friends and family know my dream was always to play for Barcelona but Celtic took over my life in a way that is hard to describe. It was more than just a football club to me.
“The day I arrived at Celtic my life changed forever. I may not have played as many games as I wanted but I never fell out of love with the club. If anything, I fell more in love.
“I learned about the history and became a real fan. There are thousands like me and they will understand what I mean about Celtic when I say I don’t have words to describe how special it is. I’m one of the lucky ones, I lived their dream and will never, ever forget it.
“I’ve left Celtic but the club won’t leave me.
“Every club has great backing when you win but not many can suffer major disappointments and have their fans travel halfway across the world to watch a friendly in America.
“Every player dreams of playing for a club like Celtic and I have done it. Who knows what the future brings but the one certainty is I will be back as a fan.”
After news of the Volga deal emerged it took almost a week to complete the deal.
Despite making just three appearances this season, all of them as a substitute, it still crossed Crosas’ mind that there could still be life left in his Celtic career.
He told The Sun: “After initially saying yes my heart began tugging away at me. As the days dragged on and they went quiet and no deal was being reached I began thinking: ‘Maybe it will be better to stay at Celtic.’
“I had so many conversations with Lenny, Alan Thompson, Johan Mjallby and that helped me. I want to thank Lenny. It’s because of him I got the chance to pull on the Hoops.
“He convinced Gordon Strachan to sign me. Even though he hasn’t played me, he has always made me feel like I belonged.
“I’m not mad with him. I’m delighted he’s turning Celtic into a force again.
“The move came totally out of the blue. I knew the transfer window was still open in Russia but didn’t think I’d be there. Then, when I was driving home from training on the Thursday before the Dundee United game my agent called to say FC Volga wanted me.
“Instantly I said ‘Yes’. I didn’t want to leave Celtic but I’m 23 and need to play football. It’s been a hard year for me. I haven’t started a match for 11 months but I’ve never felt fully cut off from the club.”
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