The Celtic fans have been blessed with seeing some of the best players in the world grace the Parkhead turf since the turn of this century and beyond.
From a recent Celtic perspective, we have seen the likes of the legends Henrik Larsson and Lubomir Moravcik turn out in the green and white Hoops.
We have also seen some of the world’s greats up against Celtic with Lionel Messi coming to Parkhead with Barcelona and the likes of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo with Manchester United in the Champions League.
But more recently, one player visited Celtic Park for a friendly back in 2019 but little did we know then that he would turn out to become one of the world’s best just five years later.
Eduardo Camavinga and the Celtic Park friendly
Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga has already had a glittering career at the ripe old age of 21.
With 11 major domestic honours to his name already, including two Champions League titles, the young Frenchman is already established as one of the best players on the planet.
With 19 caps to his name, Camavinga is starring with France in Euro 2024 but it was in a friendly against Neil Lennon‘s Celtic where he first impressed his former Stade Rennais teammate, Roman Salin.
Salin said [Ouest France print edition page 52], “I played in the first friendly against Celtic.
“I played the second half with all the youngsters. The image I had of Cama for a long time was that of a grasshopper.
“He wouldn’t touch the ground, everyone was trying to catch him. It was incredible.”
Camavinga made an appearance as a second-half sub in the 0-0 pre-season draw against a Celtic side that included our current right-back, Anthony Ralston. [Celtic FC]
A mere two years later and with a French Cup winners medal hanging around his neck, ‘wonderkid’ Camavinga was bought by Real Madrid from the French side for £27m as the most expensive-ever teenager at that time. [BBC]
He has faced Celtic since in the Champions League when Real Madrid came to visit Paradise to face Ange Postecoglou’s side in 2022.
Now preparing to face Belgium in the last sixteen of Euro 2024 on Monday, the 2019 friendly against Celtic must seem like a distant memory for the youngster who still has plenty of years left to add to his already impressive medal haul.