Acquiring Odsonne Edouard for €10.3 million, initially on loan and then permanently, Celtic secured their striker position knowing that Moussa Dembélé would not be staying at Parkhead forever.
It was a wise decision, as the 25-year-old would go on to play for the team for 179 games, scoring 87 goals and setting up 38 more, before leaving in 2021 for €16.3 million.
While Celtic was sorry to see him depart, they understood, like Dembélé, that they wouldn’t be able to hold him for very long because the player had made it obvious that he wanted to play in the Premier League, a topic he addressed in a Tuesday interview with Foot Mercato.
Edouard acknowledged that life at Paris Saint-Germain was “very different” from what it was like in Scotland and said he knew what had to be done.
“It’s a great club that needed a striker at that time,” he remarked. They allowed me to play on a regular basis and express myself. Of course, you can demonstrate your abilities and skills when you have time on the field.
“It went well for me because I was able to play a lot, score goals one after another, and establish some consistency. I was able to express my talent and achieve my goals because of it.
He tried his hardest to never question himself and to keep working hard to attain his ultimate objective, which was to play in England’s top division, knowing that his career as a football player is brief.
“From the moment I signed in Scotland, my ultimate goal was to win the Premier League,” he went on. I put a lot of effort into working hard and giving it my all with the hopes of one day making the Premier League. I leaped at the possibility to join Palace in 2021 when it presented itself.
In summary, he always understood that Celtic was a stopgap, and although it may not sit well with some Parkhead regulars, he did so over four years of loyalty and an abundance of goals that the local supporters will remember for years to come.
GET MORE NEWS ON HALFTIMENEWS.CO.UK