Camilo Duran is linked with a move to Celtic, but the player who could be arriving in Glasgow is very different from the one who grew up surrounded by drugs and gangs in Colombia.
Duran’s former coach Carlos Botero has lifted the lid on Celtic target Duran and shared how his upbringing in South America shaped and changed his life.
From getting into trouble on the streets to a failed move to Flamengo and then moving on to Azerbaijan, Duran’s route to professional football has been anything but easy.
Daizen Maeda: irreplaceable?
How can Celtic move on from him this summer?
‘Hot-headed’ Duran’s route to Celtic was difficult
Duran grew up in a neighbourhood where gangs and drug crime were part of everyday life. But the striker didn’t allow that to interfere with his football dream as Botero shares insight into the Colombian’s childhood.
Botero told The Evening Times, “He was a hot-headed, mischievous kid who liked to fight with everyone.
“But his life changed when he joined a football academy.
“He was sent on loan to Flamengo and they would have signed him, if it wasn’t for the fact he suffered an injury.”
Instead of ending his dream, the injury forced Duran to rebuild his career away from South America.
The ‘pioneer’ status Duran set that led to Celtic
Duran’s recovery from injury took him to Portugal and then onto Azerbaijan where Botero admits he was the poster boy for Colombian football in the region.
Botero continued, “Even then, he got back up and went to Portugal to play football.
“It was a risk for him going to Azerbaijan – he was a pioneer for Colombian footballers there. It has been the making of him and he has matured so much on the pitch.
“He has improved massively, and he is now one of the most talked-about forward players in Europe.
“Camilo can keep improving and become one of the most progressive players in Europe and earn a nice move to a bigger club.”
If Duran does arrive at Celtic this summer, he will do so after overcoming obstacles both on and off the pitch long before attracting interest from Glasgow.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
