Dorus de Vries has revealed that Brendan Rodgers tried to sign him for Liverpool.
Five years after quitting Swansea for Wolves the two men were reunited at Celtic after an Anfield near miss.
De Vries doesn’t sound like someone content to remain as a back-up keeper and is determined to make the most of the latest unlikely move in his career.
“When Brendan was at Liverpool I was close to signing for them,” the Dutch keeper admitted. “He tried to sign me but, unfortunately, it didn’t happen.
“So this is probably my last opportunity to join a really big club and be competing in the
big tournaments.
“I believe Brendan is the man who can take Celtic back into the Champions League because he’s a great man-manager.
“Did I think this would happen when Brendan got the job? If I am honest, no. That’s just because of where I was at Forest. I was Player of the Year last season and Players’ Player of the Season.
“I was really happy there but as soon as I heard that Celtic were interested I knew in my mind that I wanted to go this way.
“It’s a big compliment for him to say losing me and Luis Suarez were his two biggest losses. When I phoned him to say I was leaving Swansea to join Wolves, he was on holiday and it messed it up. He always reminds me of that.
“As a player, you want to be recognised by fans but when you have managers coming back for you, it is nice. Roberto Martinez, Brendan, and Mick McCarthy trying to sign me again later in their careers must say something about my character and what I can bring to the club as a human being and professional.”