Celtic sign Crosas?

By: Matt | August 3rd, 2008

Is that white smoke on the horizon? Scottish newspapers (a source less reliable then one would think) are reporting that Celtic have beaten out Sevilla and Sampodoria for the service of 20 year old Barcelona wunder-kid winger Marc Crosas. At first, Barca were only looking to sens Crosas out on a loan deal, but according to reports the 20 year old Catalonian has asked his former employers for a more permanent move. Sources say that Celtic and Barca have agreed to a transfer fee of 2 million quid and Crosas and his representation will fly to Glasgow to work out the personal terms of the deal. The fact that Celtic and Barcelona have had such a good relationship in the past with other deals and just general feelings of good will towards each other has made this deal possible.

Crosas is desperate to get his Celtic career started and expects to sign with the club officially within 72 hours. Some of compared Crosas to Barca great Xavi Alonso and the young winger would add much needed depth to position after injuries to Shunsuke Nakamura and Koki Mizuno. Nakamura has said that he expects to be recovered from his injury in time for next week’s season opener against St. Mirren, but Mizuno is expected to miss a couple months with his cartilage injury. If Celtic and Crosas can work out the details of a deal as expected (after the Tamas saga, nothing is guaranteed I suppose) then it’d be a great signing for Celtic. Gordon Strachan has had to use Barry Robson (although I feel Scott Brown would be more suited but when have I ever disagreed with Strachan, right?) on the right wing with the injuries to the two Japanese internationals and despite my alleged man crush on Robson, he has looked uncomfortable and lacked the pace of a winger in the friendlies. I am a big advocate of having players play their natural position, so not only would Crosas be doing that but it would be nice to have the “future Xavi”!

A video of Crosas with some terrible European dance music (you’ve been warned)