Former Celtic youngster Aaron Hickey gets standing ovation on Serie A debut

By John McGinley

September 29, 2020

Former Celtic youngster Aaron Hickey, who was also a reported target of the club this summer, got a standing ovation from Bologna supporters on his Serie A debut last night.

Around 1,000 fans were allowed in to watch Bologna beat local rivals Parma 4-1 and Hickey was one of the stand-outs, receiving adulation as he was being substituted off the field.

Manager Sinisa Mihajlovic told the club’s official website: “I enjoyed Hickey’s performance, we saw the best Skov Olsen again, but I also want to mention Schouten and Tomiyasu. These boys have quality and can make the difference, we’re growing a lot with them. I saw the Bologna that I wanted to see.

“Hickey has both personality and quality, he has a great future ahead of him. He’s lively and is learning already.”

The Scotland youth international was formerly on the books at Celtic before his Tynecastle breakthrough and was regularly linked with a move back to the champions before his Italian adventure.

Former Hearts manager Craig Levein even told BBC Scotland that the Bhoys had tried to sign him five or six times following his first-team exploits in Edinburgh.

Former Celtic youngster Aaron Hickey in action for Bologna / (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)

We’ll now have to watch the 18-year-old’s development from afar and having already earned a spot in the first-team for a massive match, his chances of playing regularly this term look good.

While I wish him all the best, of course, it would be disappointing to learn that an elite talent has slipped through Celtic’s fingers again.

Could Celtic come to regret letting the teenager go?

In other news, WWE star Drew McIntyre says he is being asked more and more about Celtic in America.