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Tales of the Unexpected for freed Celt

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Jozo Simunovic has been linked with a surprise move to AC Milan according to a German based publisher.

Since being released by Celtic at the end of last season the 26-year-old has been looking for a new club with moves to Trabzonspor and Croatian side Rijeka falling through.

AC Milan are apparently looking at central defensive options but with his injury second it’s hard to see where Simunovic fits in despite what looks like the best efforts of his agent to keep his client in the spotlight.

Last season the former Dinamo Zagreb defender started six SPFL matches, during his five years at Celtic he totalled just 70 starts and five substitute appearances in the league.

In normal circumstances a 26-year-old free agent that cost Celtic £4m in 2015 would be swamped with offers but all seems quiet with his mention padding out a story suggesting that former Hamburg defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos, also a free agent, could be on his way to the San Siro.

Hamburg based publisher MoPo reports:

The last professional game of Papadopoulos dates from September 1, 2019 – in the 3-0 win against Hannover 96, he got 14 minutes of playing time. This was followed by the demotion under coach Dieter Hecking and only two missions for the HSV U21s. That wasn’t even enough for ex-club Schalke, who rejected Papadopoulos in the summer despite an offensive application. He had already turned down four offers in winter  .

So now it should be Milan. But in addition to Papadopoulos, other central defenders are traded – including another former HSV professional. Accordingly, Léo Lacroix (Saint-Étienne, on loan to HSV in 2018/19) and Jozo Simunovic (contract with Celtic Glasgow not extended) should be alternatives for central defence.

Simunovic’s last match was a disastrous performance against Copenhagen at the end of February in the Europa League, it looks unlikely that his next will be in the red and black of AC Milan.

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