As regular readers will know the first week of November usually sees me in the beautiful city of Lisbon.
It’s all about the Web Summit.
It’s a child of the Third Wave, an Irish success story that Alvin Toffler would no doubt have approved of.
The first full day (Tuesday) is usually devoted to the intersection of sport and the digital revolution.
Last November Fabrizio Romano was one of the headline acts.
As the featured image shows that is the pic that he has on his Twitter bio.
Bottom line is that he has 8.8m followers on that social media platform because he is the Go-To-Guy for all things transfer in the footie world.
Consequently, this Tweet carries substantial heft.
The good news is that Josip Juranović is in the contractual sweet spot, signed in August 2021 on a FIVE-year deal.
That means top dollar.
A couple of years ago an in-house lawyer at an EPL club said this to me:
“At a well-run football club every player is ultimately for sale. It just depends on the price.”.
Some Celtic fans will not want to hear this, but that’s their issue.
Unlike across the city, there isn’t a need for the people in the Celtic board room to contact obedient hacks to generate market interest in the club’s players.
If Romano is reporting this then there is real substance to it.
Just like this one a few minutes ago.
The Croatian fullback is definitely a favourite with the Parkhead crowd and it is easy to see why.
However, a substantial fee for him, especially as it can be re-invested will be hard to turn down.
Moreover, the gaffer will know that.
Obviously, the player himself will have a huge say in how this plays out.
If everything in life comes back to the Godfather then we should be Michael about this and not Sonny.
I’m sure Fabrizio would capisce.
Discover more from Phil Mac Giolla Bháin
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I’ll get straight in there and say…
Fabrizio is flying a kite.
Based on the fact that Ange is trying to build a quality squad to impress in the CL…why would he accept this ?
And yes I know about the “big money ” being important….but we don’t need it…but we need quality players.
So for me its a no brainer…
He’s going nowhere.
Hail hail
Fabrizio Romano, unlike yourself, isn’t hiding in anonymity. He has a reputation for getting these things spot on.
“Flying a kite” would damage his reputation.
First up…
Your ” hiding in anonymity ” jibe is uncalled for and unnecessary.
And for the avoidance of doubt…
If all I wrote about was “transfers” and “club news “….Then you could have my name , address, telephone number and National Insurance number…as its not exactly a dangerous gig.
However some of us live in Central Scotland and like to make our feelings known about Sevco…Free Masons…The LOL…and the SFA.
To suggest, therefore, that we do so openly by giving our names…??
Hmmm…Let me think.
Finally…the guy is human…and no human is right all the time.
So let’s wait and see what transpires…and if he is accurate in his assertion…and I have fecked up…Then I shall freely admit to the error of my ways.
I would remind you, however, it was just an opinion…not an attack on Fabrizio Romano.
Hail hail
I must have watched a different season.
Juranovic is a good player, his best game was the February destruction of Sevco when he had a simply exquisite performance, but he is not even close to the levels that some are suggesting.
His passing to his team mates at times is like firing an Exocet missile at them and his crossing is, at best, so so.
He shared the right back role with the excellent Ralston and filled in at left back. He is to be commended for that. Spare me the comparisons with Daniel Fergus or KT. He is miles away from them.
I understand he has played well for his country at left back too.
I would like him to stay as I think Ange could iron out his deficiencies, but if some club offer stupid money for him then so be it.
I would be more concerned at losing Ralston.
Aye. Despite my earlier comments. I wholeheartedly agree with you. He HAS performed admirably in both positions at international level, but as I also stated, I believe firmly that young Ralston is seriously underrated. Of the three Danny, KT and JJ, Danny was by a street mile the best. He was a star in a world-class club side, which should have achieved FAR MORE than two European Cup semis.
It is though, all about perception. There are those who think he is world class. Those people may be prepared to pay way over what you or I think he is worth. That’s where the board has a decision to make. Incidentally, there are many, many Celtic fans who believe he IS right up there with the best of the best.
I would certainly be sorry to see him go but if a big money offer comes in it will be difficult to turn down as long as Ange is given the funds to build the squad. We already have a current international player ready to step in to establish the right-back position as his own.
PS: Have any of those £50m+ bids come in yet for Calvin Bassey after his MOM performance against Germany’s 11th best side?
I would love him to stay, mainly as he is excellent and I’d worry about replacing him (for all the reasons he’s attracted interest). However if a good offer comes in it would be hard to refuse. But it would need to be a damn good offer. RBs are a lean marker just now…it may be worth trying to set a new record fee with this one.
i think if celtic have any ambition, we need to keep the player for at least 2 seasons, he is a fantastic footballer, and value is only going to go up the way.
Aye, Phil, I read about the possibility this a few months ago. Josip is one of the best right backs in Europe and there is a dearth of good right backs in Europe right now. So, it’s no wonder he is being sought after by big money clubs. I would hate to see him go so soon. I enjoy watching him play, but the money he could generate would be to much to turn down. However, as you say, the player will have a say, but the money he will be offered too will be difficult for him to refuse, no matter how much he enjoys playing for Celtic.
Professional football is a business after all and for players it is a relatively short career. I hope he stays, but good luck to the bhoy either way.
Celtic are in a good situation here.
4 years left on his contract and the lad is a first-choice RB for his country.
Given the inflated nature of the EPL market then a substantial profit can be reasonably expected if a sale goes through.
Less so on the Continent.
Just as importantly, in the recent first ever Croatia win away in France against the current World champions he acquitted himself very well, as did the whole team. That game alone would have made people sit up and take notice – especially as he was playing left back!
Business is business, and the one and only governing factor in business is turning a profit.
You DO however, make an excellent point!
We have been blessed in my time of following Celtic, to have had THREE such fullbacks.
Danny McGrain, K.T. and now J.J.
All have played for their country in both FB positions and been a standout in both. Such adaptable footballers, particularly in the FB positions are extremely rare. There are probably never more than a handful world wide at any time.
THAT alone, makes him a seriously valuable commodity.
THAT gives the Celtic Board a real dilemma. Take a handsome profit now, or see that profit possibly double if he has a good/great CL campaign. Or disappear completely with a bad injury in the dying seconds of a disastrous European campaign!!
I’m genuinely glad that these decisions are not mine to make.
We also have another, to my mind seriously under rated RB, on the books. What the fuck in anyone’s thinking makes a guy who has NEVER been able to nail down a starting position at either of the clubs he’s played for, a multi-million pound player or an international choice ahead of Tony Ralston. It’s beyond my understanding.