Celtic named in extraordinary fake offer claim involving former Barcelona winger

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Celtic have been named in an incredible transfer story involving former Barcelona winger Isaac Cuenca. It centres on an offer from Parkhead that allegedly never existed.

Transfer speculation at Celtic is nothing new. Supporters are used to seeing the club linked with players who eventually end up elsewhere.

But this claim from Bışar Özbey offers an insight into how Celtic’s name can be used to force another club into action. According to his account, the threat of a move to Glasgow completely changed one contract negotiation.

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How Celtic became part of Isaac Cuenca’s Bursaspor negotiations

Özbey, a Turkish lawyer and football commentator, says he was asked by a German agent to represent Cuenca and help complete his move to Bursaspor. The Turkish club wanted the former Barcelona winger, but the negotiations stalled over how much of his contract would be guaranteed.

Özbey claimed: “He asked me to act as Isaac Cuenca’s lawyer. Bursaspor wanted him and the proposed contract increased from €500,000 to €600,000 and then €700,000.

“Bursaspor said, ‘We’ll guarantee €150,000, but not the rest.’

“Cuenca’s Italian agent then had someone call before announcing, ‘We’re leaving. Celtic have made an offer.’

“Bursaspor didn’t believe him, but he took Cuenca out of the city. I contacted the agent as Cuenca’s lawyer and was told, ‘There is no such offer.’

“The Bursaspor president kept calling me desperately, saying, ‘Bışar, this boy has to come back.’

“A week later, Cuenca returned and got the contract he wanted. It was a film scripted by that Italian fox.”

Why the fake Celtic offer worked on Bursaspor

Bursaspor may have doubted the warning, but their reaction suggests they could not afford to ignore it. Cuenca disappeared from the city, the president panicked and the contract dispute swung firmly in the player’s favour.

That is where Celtic’s name comes in. The possibility of losing a former Barcelona winger to Parkhead gave Cuenca’s representatives the pressure they needed, even though Özbey insists the offer had been invented.

Celtic were never signing Cuenca if Özbey’s account is accurate, but the club’s name still appears to have decided the deal. That makes this one of the most brazen fake transfer stories Parkhead has ever been dragged into.