AC Milan are reported to have stepped up their interest in signing Rocco Vata.
The teenager is out of contract and presenting a contract puzzle to Celtic with Italian clubs appearing to be very keen on signing him for a UEFA agreed compensation fee in the region of £300,000.
Vata spent two and a half seasons playing in the Lowland League for Celtic’s B team broken up by four brief appearances off the bench under Ange Postecoglou.
This season he has played more as a striker than as a winger, after being overlooked in the first half of the season he was brought into the first team squad against Buckie Thistle, came off the bench and scored and has been with the top squad ever since.
Brendan Rodgers has spoken encouragingly of Vata and Daniel Kelly but since that goal against Buckie there has only been one appearance off the bench, in the 87th minute at Aberdeen, with opportunities looking unlikely as the Celtic squad returns to full strength for the run-in to the season.
Picking up on the Italian interest Sempre Milan reports:
According to the information that we have learned through sources close to the situation, Milan have in fact stepped up their interest in signing Vata having watched him over the past couple of years.
Not only that, but the 18-year-old is approaching the end of his contract which means that he would be available on a ‘free transfer’.
However, because of the rules regarding compensation due to clubs who developed players through their academies that are below a certain age, it would actually cost Milan €400k to bring him in.
Nonetheless, the interest is very much concrete and discussions have been held over a pre-contract in view of the summer. The player, we are told, is keen on making the move.
It is possible that Vata is being eyed for the U23 team project, but given his desire for first team football at Celtic, he could well instantly become an option for Stefano Pioli or whomever the coach is for 2024-25.
Last week Vata scored a hat-trick for the Ireland u-21 side and although the opposition was only San Marino it will have sent out a message to clubs in Italy about his availability.
Celtic are reported to be still in talks over a new contract but with just two months left in the season it looks like Vata will be the next teenager to leave Celtic for a club in one of the top five leagues.
Another mystery…with the support being kept in the dark once again…We handle these situations very badly imo …and it would appear that Vata is off to pastures new….If he goes..then it won’t be the first time we’ve fecked it up…and won’t be the last.
The Players model has changed at Celtic.
We used to produce talented youngsters, coming through for the first team and they were shoe-horned into it.
But now the model is to buy players with the view of selling them on, giving them added value through experience of first team football.
Thus we have become a selling Club.
A selling club = Selltic !!!!