Neil Lennon was pleasantly surprised to wake up to a come-and-get-me plea from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Swedish icon revealed in an interview with The Sun that he would love to finish his playing days as a Celtic player.
Lennon’s former team-mate, Henrik Larsson, has sold the PSG striker on the Celtic story but a January move can be ruled out.
“I need to look up Z in my mobile phone”, Lennon smiled when asked about the matter. “He might not get in the team at the minute because we are going well.
“It is a strange one but it shows the reputation that we have and I think with what the supporters have brought to the Champions League, Celtic becomes more of an attractive proposition for players now which is fantastic.”
Ibrahimovic is the latest in a number of high profile players to have expressed a desire to play for Celtic.
The Swede played at Celtic Park for Ajax in 2001 as the hoops qualified for their first ever Champions League campaign with that visit making a big impression.
“Celtic is a club with a big tradition and a place any top player would want to end their career,” Ibrahimovic revealed. “How could I say I wouldn’t want to play for those fans every week?
“Henrik was good enough to play for any team in Europe but after playing at Celtic Park it is easy to understand why he chose to stay there for so long.
“No player would ever want to leave playing in the stadium for those fans. It’s a beautiful condition to play in.
“I have played in the biggest games in world football but I have never experienced an atmosphere like I did at Celtic Park.”
It’s the key phrase ‘when I finish my career’ that is important. He is a quality player no doubt and could cause problems for any defence but do we want him when he can’t go anywhere else?
Would we have said the same thing about Lubo? A player at the end of his career. I dont think we need to constantly sign players that we can sell on. A player of of undoubted ability and skill would be a delight to see at Celtic Park. Finish Career, Start Career, Middle of Career. Doesnt matter as long as they can put on a strip and play the Celtic way
Well said Pat. I would love to see him at a Celtic game never mind play for us
Depends what he wants per week. It’s not likely to be a small sum.
Well put Pat,I agree with you 100 %..especially the Lubo comment…
Would have liked Zlatan to come now rather than the end of his career……anyway the form of Pukki at the minute would see Zlatan struggle to get a game 🙂
P.S. On today’s showing, WHY does Samaras get a game?
Joe Ledley today? What a performance Joe, would he be missed?
Totally agree with your comments Monti.
Samaras back to his consistent best, running in the wrong directions, running off the pitch and best of all consistently out jumped today when the ball was in the air to be won by the smallest player on the pitch. I am now hoping he goes in this window.
As for Joe Ledley, his performances over the last few games is nothing short of as Nothing.
Offering nothing going forward, playing conservatively, nothing special. Even looks as though he his simply going through the paces, ticking over and keeping himself fit for a sale.
Forrest, was he playing?
Never thought I would never say this but the strongest, functioning department of our team is our back 5 and I include Foster in that. From middle to front with the exception of Kris Commons we look poor.
Time to give the youth players and Biton a run, and I even include Balde a run in the team.
The last few games and most of the home games this season have been poor entertainment and i fear by the end of this season Parkhead will be like a ghost town.
Give the younger players a run Lenny. They will show more hunger and desire.
Hail Hail.
Totally agree TB,
Biton, Rogic, Balde, Fisher…..give them 6 or 7 games in a row.
I don’t want to see Pukki again, is somebody taking the piss here?
If you can’t score goals playing for Celtic there is something badly wrong!
Forrest in my opinion is guaranteed a game by Lennon, he isn’t getting himself on the ball enough, demanding it then start attacking full backs.
I was watching Samaras closely today, utter shite!
Credit as well to Inverness, I thought they used the ball well, no penetration tho!
Samaras off his game. Can’t disagree. Poor showing last 3 or 4 games. But he’s been injured and has been a substitute in the last few games, even then used as a striker when his best position is left hand side.
Ledley has been off the pace since coming back from injury and may well be destined for another club. Good luck to Joe if that’s the case. Our most consistent performer for the last three years.
I am willing to stand corrected, but I’m sure Zlatan stated recently that he intended retiring in the next 2 years. If that was the case, then I’d love to see him end his career at Celtic. However, I’ll treat it as, indeed what it is, paper talk. I used to think he was arrogant and aloof until I read his views on Lungjbergs diva antics with the Sweden squad…Right up in my estimations after that. I would also challenge any fan to view his collection of goals on YouTube and not be amazed (at the same time, watch how he celebrates with his team mates, unlike certain other superstars!) H×2
Nonsense story MSM trying to deflect from Sevcos problems lets not fall for it.Hail Hail
Just in from pub,after watching that dire
performance.
Joe’s blog has caught my imagination.
Would PSG accept Samaras,Stokes,Forrest,Pukki and Balde in
exchange for Big Zlatan ?
Sorry,for being a cynic,but unless Henrik is our manager it won’t happen.
Now there’s a thing ?
I woul be quite happy, if Zlatan persuaded
Lustig to stay with us.
Today’s game ? Drive you to drink.
At least I had the pub to fall back on.
Many punters had Commons first goalscorer.
Are we a ONE MAN team up front ?
Tony Watt could surely offer more than
Samaras,Stokes andPukki ? ( put together )
Will we ever get the quality strikers we need ? Or is Zlatan having a laugh ?
I would not play Stokes or Samaras again,sorry they offer nothing up front.I thank them for everything they’ve done for our great club but play youngsters from now on the Leagues won and we need to be thinking of the future.
We’ll said Andy I totally agree, it was time Samaras was given his jotters and Stokes has not kicked a ball since signing his new contract so he should be told start playing or be sold, but for the rest if the season I would play the youngsters
Why does Lennon continue to start Samaras? Its obvious he has no heart for the jersey, other than supplying commons stokes is useless and Pukki is a dud.If we can get a coupla good years outa big Zlatan bring him on!!
I just read that the SFA have brought Dougie McDonald back into the fold! What a disgrace this is. He will be “advising” younger officials! This is a sign that they are building up their forces again to fight and overcome Celtic.
As if having an ex-director of the corrupt club who went bust two years ago as the SFA President, they build their forces even more.
Where else but in Scotland could anyone get away with this?
I read that as well Joe, utter shambles at the top of the game in Scotland!
Would like to hear Neil Lennon’s thoughts on the matter!
Corrupt to the core SFA at its best. But that lot wont be back soon.anyway BELIEVE
Heard a rumour the SFA have looked at liquidation mark II scenarios. Some idiot (apparently) even suggested the SFA loans teams out of liquidation where possible & if it was for the continued good of the SPFL product! – don’t know how true this shite is but I wouldn’t put it past them to help the sevco….
Fu90ie,
sfa help the sevco ?
Where have you been.
Ogilvie and his cohorts have already bent over backwards to keep them in
the game.
5 way agreement,as a new club,preferential status to join the league.
Old mob,given licence to play in Europe,
which is against FFP rules,as they owed
IR re small tax case.
More than all these,why has their licence
to play in Scotland,not been revoked, as
Whyte put money up,to buy the liquidated club.
The sfa are a sham,and through fear and
favour,they will always keep sevco sweet.
Pipe dream, but I’m sure big Zlatan could do a job for us especially in CL.
Maybe it’s worth getting him just to shame the rest of the so called strikers we’ve got at the moment into some action.
Hail hail
What a signing it would be though if he did, even if it was to the end of his playing days, even for 1 x Season, he’d still be as sharp as a Tack and we could certainly use the height up front if Sammy does go.
….and as far as Tony Watt is concerned…tell him to pack his Bags if he does come back and get into the first Team, we can do without somebody NOT pulling their weight in the Team we have at the moment.
I dont blame pukki or amido ,they are not given the chance to shine , sammy is starting to look like a tranny and stokes should never be first team pick , I fear van djik been sold on to as he is player of the year , agreed we are looking solid in the back ,cmon lenno take a small gamble bring on new bhoys ! HH