31st August 2025; Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland; Scottish Premiership Football, Rangers versus Celtic; Michel-Ange Balikwisha of Celtic on the ball
Michel Ange Balikwisha has revealed that he wanted substituted 10 minutes into his Celtic debut at Ibrox.
On the back of being knocked out of the Champions League to Kairat Almaty Celtic splashed out £5m on the winger from Standard Liege.
Standard fans gave Balikwisha an emotional send off as the winger departed.
Celtic’s summer 2025 Recruitment plan was difficult to work out.
In July Nicolas Kuhn was sold with no right winger signed to replace the German.
Kyogo Furuhashi’s departure in January had resulted in the arrival of Shin Yamada.
Brendan Rodgers took his side to Ibrox at the end of August with Adam Idah deep in negotiations to join Swansea City.
Kasper Dolberg was strongly linked with a move to Celtic but it was Balikwisha that was given a debut at Ibrox.
A GENUINELY REVEALING INTERVIEW FROM BALIKWISHA
After the long journey back from Kazakhstan time on the training ground with his new team-mates was limited for Balikwisha.
Recalling the circumstances of his debut The Sun reports Balikwisha saying:
When I left Royal Antwerp to sign for Celtic, the manager Mark van Bommel told me I would be flying in Scotland.
But it turned out I wasn’t physically ready for Celtic.
It’s four times more intense than it is in Belgium.
In my first match against Rangers, I wanted to ask to be substituted after ten minutes.
It is sprint after sprint after sprint, even after a throw-in. My thighs caught fire. Every training session is like a match.
Martin O’Neill forced the strikers to make extra runs. I was already knocked out, but after that I was in the dressing room stone dead!
There was a teammate who thought he was going to die – he had to go to hospital for a check-up!
Balikwisha’s debut is widely regarded as one of the worst ever Glasgow Derbies.
The 0-0 draw summed up 90 dismal minutes. It was to be the final Derby match for Brendan Rodgers and Russell Martin.
O’Neill, Wilfried Nancy and O’Neill took charge of Celtic with playing time extremely limited for the £5m signing from Belgium.
Reflecting on his year at Celtic that apparently ruined his World Cup hopes Balikwisha added:
I played in the African Cup of Nations with DR Congo and when I returned, Wilfried Nancy was gone and Celtic were playing a catch-up race in the league.
Martin O’Neill didn’t want me in his squad anymore. It was as if I was paying the price for being away. But I wasn’t the only one who wasn’t playing.
A three-month loan deal from the MLS was offered, but ultimately Celtic refused the loan.
That was when I knew immediately the World Cup was gone for me.
That hurt because I had contributed to Congo’s qualification.
But life doesn’t stop and I hope there will be more World Cups for me.
My girlfriend and daughters were having a hard time in Glasgow too. If they are unhappy, so am I.
With those comments it seems like there is no way back for Balikwisha who is on loan at Gent.
Balikwisha spent four seasons at Royal Antwerp before making his move to Celtic. That transfer was rumoured to be underway at various times during the 24/25 season.
This season he was listed as a substitute for both legs of the Champions League qualifier against LASK Linz, his last appearance was away to Auchinleck Talbot in the January Scottish Cup tie.
Celtic have the winger on a contract that runs until May 2030.
Both the God awful Scottish Sun rag and the rapidly declining and dwindling daily Record print the anti Celtic Balikwisha story today just a few hours away from a vital Celtic game to Benfica in the Europa League . All perfectly timed with laser like precision for maximum damage by both Glasgow Kharzi roll rags . If there ever was a slight doubt about those two rag tabloids having Celtic and Scottish football’s best interests at heart especially in Europe apart from the tribute act ….then there’s the proof that they don’t give a toss ! Never ever hold your breath for a single second hoping that those papers will be ‘rooting and tooting ‘ for Celtic FC either domestically or in European competitions? That’s never going to happen . Cowpokes ….
That’s what it means to play for Celtic son. Did you think we paid £5m for you to come here for a holiday. Fuck off and don’t come back, you lazy fuckin imposter
Ten fn minutes !!!!
You having a laff,bro ???
I wanted you subbed,locker cleared and off the premises the moment you got the ball and refused to take on the worst defensive full back in the league, aka James Tavenier.
A complete waste of a jersey and a wage thief.
As Matt has already said,don’t come back because the Celtic shirt doesn’t come in Ken and Barbie sizes, which would STILLbe too big for you !!!
One of our all time top 5 worst signings – and that’s a tough list to make, with such vaulted company as Scheidt, Boerritger (sic), Juarez, Bangura et al….
Bigger flop and waste of money than Rafael Scheidt….and that’s saying something.
Don’t care what he does anywhere else, he was hopeless for us.
Get this B*astard to f*uck as soon as possible !
Mute Mike having a punt!.
At the time the press release said Celtic had been tracking him for 18 months.
The list off duds signed since Mute Mike became CEO is depressingly long!
Another Nicholson fuck up when does that useless cunt get the boot.
He seems to forget he has to come back…..Fud
Yes, the only point in making such negative comments public,
is to try and ensure he doesn’t return to Celtic after his loan period?
Then again, potential new clubs might be put off by those same comments too.
Just daft.