Karamoko Dembele has provided his first major interview- describing how he had to mature quickly as a 13-year-old.
Two years ago he became the most discussed teenager in the game when he made a 10 minute substitute appearance for Celtic in the Development League.
That level of football is essentially reserve football, aimed at players under 20 years old but allowing clubs to field five overage players.
“It wasn’t that big for me at the time but it was when I got back to my house and saw social media,” he told Touzani TV.
“It was crazy, it took my life to a different level. I couldn’t do the things that I had before, I had to mature quick.”
Kazi, as he is known to his team-mates played for 45 minutes against Aberdeen in the Development League but will have to wait until his 16th birthday in February before he can play in the ‘new look’ Reserve League.
Every major club in Europe are tracking his development with the likelihood being that he’ll have left Celtic before his 21st birthday.
Internationally he has played regularly for Scotland and England at various levels and also has the option to play for the Ivory Coast.