Alistair Johnston has given insight into the role Victor Wanyama played in helping convince him of a move to Celtic, revealing that the midfielder was on his case about it months in advance.
Johnston was teammates with Wanyama at CF Montreal and as the right-back dreamt of a move to Europe, Wanyama was in his ear pushing the idea of playing for Celtic.
As quoted by The Glasgow Times, the new signing said: “Agent Victor was on it from the get-go. I just remember a couple of months back, he actually brought up to me that he thought Celtic was the perfect fit for me. It’s funny because I thought, yes, I completely agree.
“A little bit later I got word that there was some interest there, and I talked to Victor a lot about it. He’s played at some massive clubs like Spurs, Southampton and Celtic, and he said that everyone else paled in comparison to Celtic.
“He talked about the fanbase and said that everywhere you go, it’s ‘Hail, Hail!’, it’s constant and still to this day, when he runs into people, they remember him from his Celtic days and he finds that pretty crazy. He spoke so highly of the fanbase, and they said it’s one of the most passionate fanbases in the world, if not the most passionate.
“He said, ‘look, mate. It’s the perfect club for you. You’ll love it over there. They fit your style and how you want to play the game, and your passion for the game as well.’ So hearing that glowing review from him really drove it home. We get along very well and he’s been an ultimate pro, and a very big cheerleader for Celtic all around the globe, so when he gave that glowing recommendation, I just knew this was the place I wanted to be, so I’m just really glad that it’s come to fruition.”
This doesn’t seem like your run-of-the-mill thumbs-up from a player who has been sounded out for information.
It sounds like Wanyama actively went out of his way to educate Johnston on what Celtic is all about, even in comparison to some other big clubs in the region.
It’s fantastic to hear that the Kenyan is still so fond of the club after making a short but sweet impact on the Bhoys and supporters – most famously scoring against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.
Maybe the Bhoys should give him an ambassadorial gig once he hangs up his boots!
In other news, “He is more than happy”; EPL legend dismisses Ange Postecoglou narrative after Celtic chat.
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