Alberth Elis namechecks Celtic amid Champions League "dream"

By Hamish Carton

July 9, 2020

You may not be totally familiar with the name Alberth Elis. But the Honduras international certainly knows all about Celtic.

The Houston Dynamo winger, who the Hoops reportedly bid for last summer (Daily Record), has been finding out about Neil Lennon’s men from a reliable source.

His international team-mate Emilio Izaguirre is Celtic daft. The full-back, who departed Scotland last summer, has been offering Elis sound advice on the Hoops as the winger aims to fulfil his “dream” and play in Europe.

Elis in action (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The MLS man told the Daily Record: “There are clubs who would be nice to play for because they are always challenging for titles and cups.

“I have spoken to Emilio about Celtic and he’s told me they are at another level.

“For me, since the day I left Olimpica, I’ve never hidden the fact that my dream is to go and play in Europe and compete in the Champions League.

Former Hoops defender Izaguirre (Photo credit should read ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

“Houston know my position. They have offered me a new contract and I will decide on my future at the end of the season.”

Elis comments show Celtic Champions League importance

Elis’ comments are hardly groundbreaking. We hear about the lure of Celtic from multiple sources every single transfer window.

But the fact he mentioned the Champions League by name is pretty telling.

Players like Elis will dream of competing against the finest players on the continent – and the only place where they all co-exist is Europe’s premier competition.

Celtic can offer players a chance for stars to shine on the biggest stage, as we have seen with the likes of Moussa Dembele, Virgil Van Dijk, Victor Wanyama and countless others over the last decade.

Dembele shone in the Champions League (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

It is why the Champions League must still be vital for Neil Lennon and his men next season, despite the majority of our focus likely to be centred around winning a tenth successive title.

Elis’ comments prove that Celtic and European football come as a package for many hopeful players.

To attract the best quality of players possible, it is imperative that we dine at the continent’s top table again this coming season.