Celtic star Matt O’Riley and his commitment to Denmark, who called him up the next U21 squad, might have seemed a bit random.
However, it’s an option he’s been more than aware of for a good long while. Though his mother’s Danish passport would’ve allowed the DBU to approach him, O’Riley has actually been involved with Danish football since his teens.
At a training camp in Denmark, at the age of 14, he encountered Japhet Sery Larsen, who he’d meet again – playing for Bodo/Glimt against Celtic.
The two would briefly speak after Celtic’s meeting with the Norwegian champions. According to O’Riley, that was when he dropped his biggest hint yet that he’d join the Denmark set-up.
O’Riley said [Tipsbladet]: “I do not know so many players from the U21 national team, but I know Japhet Sery Larsen [of Bodo/Glimt] from before.
“We talked together after the match against Bodø/Glimt, where he asked how it [was going], and there I said, among other things: “Yes, maybe see you soon.”
“We changed jerseys after the match. I met him when I was 14 or 15 years old at a training camp in Denmark. It was the first time I met him [since]. It was nice to see that he is doing well and at the same time [I] could share the experience with him on a big European stage.”
Celtic star Matt O’Riley and his Denmark decision making more and more sense
It’s very interesting that, even when O’Riley was known to England youth team selectors, he was exploring his options in Denmark.
O’Riley, a star in Fulham’s youth academy, made 4 appearances for the England U16s, later being called up at U18 level. However, it’s clear that O’Riley hasn’t just thought about his Denmark chances in recent years. And how strange, then, that he’d meet one of his future international team-mates playing in a brand-new European competition.
The midfielder absolutely deserves the opportunity. He’s been sensational since coming to Celtic from MK Dons, both on and off the pitch. On it, he’s scored and set up goals, and his link-up play with the likes of Hatate, Juranovic and Abada has been must-watch.
Off it, he’s shown the maturity, confidence and attitude to work well under Ange Postecoglou. It’s no surprise that Ange was so taken by him. What’s more, the feeling is mutual; it took O’Riley about 5 minutes to make up his mind about joining Celtic.
There’s a senior international future for him, for sure. Especially if he can maintain the level he’s shown early on at Celtic. Watching him play, it almost feels surreal that he’s just 21 years old.
Exciting times indeed, for the Denmark U21 player. But this was not a random choice; the seeds were sown a long time ago.
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