It’s the transfer rumour that won’t go away this summer. A saga that has rumbled on since before last season even ended. In his time on loan at Celtic, Patrick Roberts became a massive fan favourite and supporters couldn’t bear the thought of him returning to Manchester City.
Since he left to join up with Pep Guardiola’s squad, fans have discussed to death the prospect of him returning to Glasgow.
This week that speculation has reached fever pitch after outlets like the BBC reporting that he was due to tell Man City that he wants to return to the Hoops next season. With the BBC also reporting that teams like Ligue 1 side Nice are also interested in his signature, competition is fierce for the young winger after his excellent performances last season.
However, Celtic can offer him more than most other clubs in Europe who are at his level right now and here are THREE big reasons why he should choose the Hoops over anyone else…
A devoted fanbase
Even if Patrick Roberts never plays for Celtic again, he’s unlikely to find a club whose supporters will love him as much as Celtic fans do. The Hoops fans are notoriously passionate and adoring, but the relationship with Patrick Roberts was a new level, with his dynamic trickery, pace and excellent finishing ability appreciated by a support who love attacking football.
They recognise his potential to become an elite player and believe that he can achieve that with Celtic. It’s the kind of backing that most players would be lucky to have.
If he signed for Celtic tomorrow the response would be massive and give him the platform to achieve massive things with the club should he continue to develop at the same rate he has done over the last 18 months.
Somewhere new and he’ll have to work hard to fit in all over again.
First team Champions League football
If Patrick Roberts moved to Celtic, the club have one massive attraction, UEFA Champions League football. It’s the pinnacle of a player’s club career and having already had a taste at such a young age, we expect that Roberts has ambitions to play in the group stages of competition many more times.
Sure, Manchester City will be there too but he isn’t going to get the game time or be trusted enough by Pep Guardiola to be starting there quite yet. At Celtic he is all but guaranteed of at least competing for places.
The Hoops are well placed to go through the play-off round vs Astana and are looking to improve on their fourth placed finish in the groups last term. Patrick Roberts was pivotal in some European matches last season including scoring a headline-grabbing goal against his parent club Manchester City and providing the assist for Leigh Griffiths in Kazakhstant to help them progress in qualifying.
He can make his name on this stage once again and a move to another Premier League club may not build his profile in the same way.
Brendan Rodgers
Another aspect unique to Celtic is Brendan Rodgers, one of the best man managers in Britain and one of the best head coaches anywhere when it comes to developing young talent. From his days in the backroom staff at Chelsea right through to his current role at Celtic, he’s always prided himself on working with young players.
The main beneficiaries of that at the Hoops right now are Kieran Tierney and Moussa Dembele, two players who have seen their stock and standing in the game rise massively under the former Liverpool manager.
Another season working with Rodgers could be massive Roberts career in the long-term, enhancing his game with the small details the Celtic coaching staff can pass on and getting the regular week-to-week football in an attacking, possession-based team that can provide the mentality for him to be a success at elite clubs.
