This writer has to hold his hands up and admit I was wrong when I stated that Celtic would struggle to get Patrick Roberts back to the club this summer.

The England youth international arrived back in Glasgow this week to pen another loan deal from Manchester City. Celtic were dogged in their pursuit and got the man they had always wanted this summer.

The winger impressed with the Citizens in preseason, just as he had done at Celtic Park all last term. But City boss Pep Guardiola decided the youngster would benefit from yet another spell away from the English Premier League club.

French side Nice as well as fellow English top flight side Southampton were both linked with moves but it seems that Roberts himself pushed for a return to Parkhead. He was no doubt helped in making that decision by the constant social media messages from Hoops fans wishing him well and demanding that he came back to the Scottish Premiership champions.

Roberts scored seventeen times for Celtic in sixty appearances during his first year and a half stay at the club.

Getting him back to Glasgow is a real coup for Brendan Rodgers and his board. The player is very impressive with the ball at his feet, he creates plenty of chances and he can also score goals. He’s a well liked face amongst his teammates, the management team and the supporters in the terraces. He will be a player who just might provide special moments in the Champions League. 

A special doth of the cap goes to the person who decided to give the returning hero the famous number seven jersey! It really is a PR and marketing dream to have Roberts wearing the same number that made Jimmy Johnstone, Kenny Dalglish and Henrik Larsson famous.

I don’t doubt more Celtic shirts will fly out the shops and people who already have the new tops will go in and get Roberts ‘7’ on the back.

The demand to get him back at the club was huge and the fans are overjoyed that they finally have their man back and that the board went all out to bring him back, they even tried to get a permanent deal done:

“Celtic wanted to sign me permanently,” 

“City, being as they are and being my parent club, they obviously didn’t want to sell me.  From that point of view it’s good for me that Pep and the team there still want to keep me and keep me involved.”

The second part of that quote shows that Patrick Roberts may still have a future at the Etihad under Pep Guardiola. If he doesn’t then expect Celtic to make another big push for his permanent services next summer.

For now the twenty year old attacker can relax knowing he’s at a club that wants him this season and the supporters will go out buy his shirt and sing his name as they spend the season trying to woo Patrick Roberts all over again!

Posted on August 29th, 2017 by scott
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