Vasilis Barkas’ reported decision on his Celtic future has to be taken as a major plus for the new manager.
The Hoops are still managerless as we continue to press ahead with what’s been a dismal 2020/21 season. John Kennedy remains in charge until the summer (as things stand). However, with speculation rife that Eddie Howe will be appointed this week, it remains to be seen when the new boss officially takes charge.
Regardless, Barkas appears in no hurry to move on despite a torturous season for him. The Greek stopper arrived from AEK Athens for a healthy £4.5million in the summer [Scottish Sun].
Since then it’s been one disaster after another. We won’t go into it too much – you’re all aware of the campaign Barkas has had. These days, he finds himself on the bench and second-choice to Scott Bain.
Former boss Neil Lennon suggested that Barkas had struggled to settle in Scotland. This looked an ominous sign ahead of the summer transfer window [BBC].
However, according to Greek outlet Sportime, he isn’t interested in a return to Greece. Instead, Vasilis wants to either stay with Celtic or stay abroad. That, for any new manager, tells him a lot about the strength of Barkas’ psychological frame of mind.
An Celtic exit door is available for Vasilis Barkas; refusing to return to his comfort zone would say much about him
This is a goalkeeper who could easily opt-out of the pressure he’s under. A stopper who could take the easy way out if he wants to. But it’s clear he doesn’t want to do that. Despite the high level of stick he’s received this season, and in a country whose football will have been alien to him, he still appears determined to put this right.
No Celtic supporter should be put off by his reported openness to move abroad. That likely comes from a scenario in which he isn’t favoured at Parkhead by the new boss.
But whenever the new manager is appointed, he’ll have Barkas 100% prepared to make his mark. A goalkeeper with both international and Champions League experience behind him.
No, there are no guarantees it will work out here for Vasilis. The new man may even want to sign his own number one this summer. But the fact he’s not jumping at the first route out of Parkhead is a promising sign. It shows a desire to make a success of it here and do the job he was signed to carry out.
Life goes on after our 10-in-a-row pursuit. No signing should be deemed a permanent failure just because this campaign didn’t work out. Barkas can put himself into a great position to be a part of Celtic’s future if he impresses in pre-season. But half the battle was always going to be how he felt about the situation. Thankfully, it appears he’s certainly up for the challenge.
That, automatically, gives the next manager the satisfaction of knowing his priciest goalkeeper is ready to go all-in for him.
In other news, a seven-year Celtic star has been tipped to leave Parkhead this summer.
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