Niall McGinn has revealed some details about Celtic’s biggest transfer mistake of the Century.
In January 2009 the winger had just signed for Celtic from Derry City when the club brought over a young Irish defender to take a look at.
Players are regularly brought in for a week’s training, when a trial is required it means that the club needs convinced about the possible new recruit from Sligo Rovers.
Alas for Seamus Coleman, unlike McGinn, there was to be no future role for him at Celtic.
A return to Sligo was on the cards as Gordon Strachan decided that he was unlikely to threaten Mark Wilson or Andreas Hinkel. In reserve Celtic had Paul Caddis.
Davie Moyes quickly took a look at Coleman, was impressed by what he saw and almost a decade later it’s doubtful if Everton have ever had better value for £60,000.
On Thursday night in Dublin McGinn and Coleman will come face to face on international duty with the Aberdeen winger remembering the first time that he became aware of the Ireland skipper.
“When I signed for Celtic, Seamus Coleman was actually there on trial,” he told The Sun..
“To think that Celtic didn’t sign him was a massive disappointment for them.
“Certainly when you look at the unbelievable career he has gone on to have at a top level with Everton.”
Before he broke his leg playing for Ireland against Wales in 2017 Coleman was being strongly linked with a £50m move to Manchester United and Chelsea.