Kelechi Iheanacho did not arrive in the best of Celtic circumstances.
The Nigerian striker signed after the summer transfer window closed last Monday as a free agent after being released from Sevilla.
Celtic failed to buy an Adam Idah replacement before the 11pm transfer deadline, settling instead for ex-Leicester City striker Iheanacho.
Brendan Rodgers knows Iheanacho well from their time at the King Power Stadium, and the 28-year-old has revealed the Northern Irishman’s ‘gift’ that attracted him to Glasgow.
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Iheanacho on the ‘gift’ of Brendan Rodgers
Iheanacho could make his Celtic debut against Kilmarnock this Sunday, as he praised Rodgers‘ man management skills in an interview with Celtic TV.
He said: “He’s been massively important in my career. He looked after me when I was in Leicester and gave me the opportunity to show my talent and help the team to win trophies.
“He’s a great manager and a great person. He’s got a good personality as well so I’m happy to play for him again.
“I’m happy to be a Celtic player and to play for this great club.
“His man management, the way he manages players, he’s a great guy. He knows how to manage his team and the players as well.
“He has that gift for managing players very well. He looks after you, on the pitch and outside the pitch as well.”
Iheanacho’s scoring record under Rodgers at Leicester City
Celtic fans just hope that Iheanacho can rediscover his form of a few years ago when Rodgers made him shine at Leicester.
He struggled last season at Sevilla and at Middlesbrough on loan, but there is a talent within that just needs to be coached out of him again.
Rodgers completed three full seasons at Leicester, discounting his first and last campaigns that were uncompleted.
In those three years, Iheanacho scored 37 goals in 108 appearances.
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