Former Celtic midfielder Beram Kayal has helped sway Hatem Abd Elhamed’s decision to come to Celtic.
Kayal was signed by Neil Lennon back in 2010 as he geared up for his first full season in management. The Israeli went on to make 132 appearances for the club before leaving for Brighton.
Meanwhile, the signing of Elhamed looks close to completion. The right-back/centre-back is still trying to sort out his visa, but by all accounts, everything has been agreed (Scottish Sun).
And, speaking to the Daily Record, Kayal has explained how he helped convince the Hapoel Be’er Sheva man that Celtic is the right place for him.
“This is a big opportunity for Hatem. I’m so happy for him to get the chance to join a big club like Celtic. Obviously he asked me for advice because I would class him as a friend.
“What did I say to him? I told him that it will probably be the best day of his life when he signs for Celtic. He’s a really good player and, most importantly, he’s ready to be a Celtic player.
“When you are joining such a big club as Celtic then you need experience and he has that now, including making his debut for the international team. He’s really fast, knows how to defend and he’s calm with the ball at his feet. He can play in two positions, right back and centre back, so that versatility is also an advantage.”
Beram Kayal remembered fondly by Celtic fans
Kayal was adored by the Celtic fans during his spell at the club under Lennon. His tough-tackling, no-nonsense approach to the midfield was something that caught on well with the supporters.
Kayal loved his time in Glasgow, and always looked like he was enjoying his football. In addition to that, he was always talking about how grateful he was to have been given the opportunity. Perhaps there’s nobody better to convince Elhamed of how good a place Celtic is to develop.
Still we continue to wait on the deal being done as we head into the final 48 hours before we face Nomme Kalju. Even at this early stage, it’s looking highly unlikely that Celtic feature him against the Estonians.
In an ideal world, Lennon would’ve been able to see him on the training ground before he plays. That could rule him out against the Estonian outfit should he sign on time.
The one positive about Elhamed is that there should be no concerns about his fitness. Be’er Sheva are half-way through their season, so he should be one of the sharper signings we’ve acquired this summer.
In any case, it’s clear Kayal’s words have helped persuade the defender that his future is in Glasgow. All we can hope for now is that he’s as big of a success as his Israeli international team-mate was at Parkhead.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
