Julian Araujo has sent his goodbye message to Celtic.
The Mexican defender became an unlikely fan favourite during his loan spell from Bournemouth in Glasgow, but the move has cruelly been cut short.
Martin O’Neill confirmed that Araujo’s season was over this week, putting an end to his Celtic career (as it stands) after 13 appearances.
It’s fair to say that the appreciation between him and the fans was mutual.
Your reaction to the Julian Araujo injury news 🥲
Julian Araujo says Celtic will stay with him ‘forever’
The defender wrote on Instagram: “I don’t have all the answers right now, but I trust that everything happens for a reason and that God is guiding every step of this journey.
“I’m truly grateful to Celtic Football Club for welcoming me from day one and making Glasgow feel like home.
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“Wearing this badge and experiencing the passion, history, and energy of this club is something I’ll carry with me forever.
“To my teammates and coaches – thank you for everything we shared this season.
“I’ll be behind you all the way and have no doubt in what this group can achieve.
“This isn’t the way I imagined this season ending, but it’s part of the story. I’ll take this moment, grow through it and come back stronger than ever.”
In a season of underwhelming signings, Araujo has been one of Celtic’s transfer success stories.
Since being brought to Parkhead on loan – the only signing completed under the watch of Wilfried Nancy – he has emerged as something of a cult hero.
Cryptic messages posted on Instagram by Araujo (and less cryptic ones by his cousin) have even hinted at the move potentially becoming permanent.
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Whether his Hoops career can be revived remains to be seen. On the flipside, the news clears the path for Alistair Johnston, who is expected to make his long-awaited return from injury in the coming weeks.
Araujo has 16 Mexico caps, but hasn’t appeared for the national side since the CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final against Luis Palma’s Honduras last July.
It remains to be seen if he will be fit in time for the tournament, and if his Celtic performances have been enough to impress manager Javier Aguirre.
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