Karim Rekik believes that Hertha Berlin have signed a world class defender in Dedryck Boyata.
Many Celtic fans would dispute that assessment but as a regular in the Belgian international squad Boyata has a degree of credibility on the continent that was never matched during four seasons at Celtic.
It took Brendan Rodgers until halfway through his first season to turn to the former Manchester City defender who went on to play his way into the Belgian World Cup side managed by Roberto Martinez.
Rekik was at Manchester City alongside Boyata and told The Sun:
Dedryck is a magnificent signing for us, he is now a world class defender. We were together at Manchester City. He’s older than me so I always looked up to him but he really helped me. It would be great if we could form a partnership together.
He’s quick and reads the game very well. He’s done really well at Celtic since he left Manchester City and broken into the Belgium squad. I think he is a terrific signing for us and to get him for nothing is a very good piece of business by the club.
Boyata was signed by Ronny Deila in the summer of 2015 from Manchester City but failed to make any real impact in his debut season.
Last summer there was a stand off between the defender and Celtic after a bid from Fulham was rejected, after missing out on the Champions League qualifier against AEK Athens he was brought back into the side by Brendan Rodgers.