Arne Engels is Celtic’s most expensive transfer signing in the history of the club.
Celtic paid £11m for Engels last summer and it seems that the price tag is putting undue pressure on the young Belgian.
Engels appeared in all but one of Celtic’s 52 fixtures last season, contributing 10 goals and 13 assists as the Hoops won a double and progressed from the Champions League.
Admittedly, the Celtic midfielder’s form isn’t great right at this moment but what Kris Boyd said about Engels after the Bhoys beat Aberdeen was superbly slapped down by Stiliyan Petrov.
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Petrov tells Boyd Engels ‘played a big part’ for Celtic last season
If it wasn’t for Celtic overpaying for Engels, he wouldn’t be copping half as much heat as the Belgian is getting now.
However, what Boyd said about the Celtic midfielder after the Aberdeen win really annoyed Petrov.
Petrov said on Sky Sports, “You were talking about the players he bought who haven’t produced, who did you mean?
Boyd: “Well he signed Engels for eleven million and he’s on the bench.”
Petrov: “Who’s that?”
Boyd: “Trusty? Engels? £11m? Trusty is on the bench ahead of Scales?”
Petrov: “Yeah, but they’ve played, Engels especially, he played a big part in last season.”
Boyd: “There’s no competition in there. You know, soon as there’s competition, you find yourself on the bench.”
Petrov: “Yeah, but it’s a development.”
Boyd: “£11m is not a development Stiliyan.”
Petrov: “Of course he is!”
Kris Boyd’s daft ‘no competition’ at Celtic for Arne Engels
One thing the Sky Sports panel didn’t pick up on was Boyd’s daft assertion that there was no competition for Engels last season.
That is simply untrue. The Celtic midfield is the strongest area of the team and players like Reo Hatate, Paulo Bernardo, Luke McCowan and, of course, Callum McGregor all vying for just three spots in the team.
Engels is a quality player and at 21, is still not the finished article despite his £11m price tag.
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