Egyptian star Haitham Hassan, Celtic's new Scottish player, revealed the details of the conversation he had with coach Martin O'Neill before officially joining the team's ranks, confirming that the dialogue played an important role in convincing him that the club is the appropriate step in his career.
The player joined Celtic after many negotiations that took place between the two parties recently, during which the player also spent a distinguished period with the Egyptian national team at the World Cup.
Despite the attention the player received after his appearance at the World Cup, Haitham Hassan confirmed that Celtic was interested in signing him before the tournament, which was one of the most important reasons for his choice of the Scottish club.
Haitham Hassan's statements
Haitham Hassan said in statements reported by the site "celtsarehere": "I would be lying if I said my phone didn't ring like crazy; my agents had a lot of work, but I think that's normal."
He added: "At the World Cup, one or two matches can change everything, especially when facing Argentina, but I was convinced that Celtic was the best option for me, and I am very excited to be here."
Hassan spoke about his meeting with Martin O'Neill, explaining: "I was completely clear from the beginning; I have always been interested in Celtic club and the project."
He continued: "Martin O'Neill presented me with Celtic's project and told me a lot about the club, its history, and its fans."
The player noted that he had known Celtic for years, saying: "I already knew the club because they participated in the Champions League several times when I was younger, and I used to follow them on television."
He explained that the club's ambitions were among the most important factors that prompted him to decide to move, saying: "In fact, it was mainly about the project and where I would fit in; we are here to win every cup, like a very ambitious club with values, and this fits perfectly with what I was looking for."
The player revealed that qualifying for the Champions League was present during his conversation with O'Neill, explaining: "The coach mentioned that we did not qualify for the Champions League last year, but we want to return this season and are working on building a team capable of competing again in the Champions League."
He continued: "I think this is the right step for me, and it was a very fruitful conversation with him, but it's not just about that; it's about the club in general, a large fan base, playing in front of 60,000 fans, the expectation of winning titles, and the player becoming better."
He concluded his statements by confirming that Celtic's confidence in him before his global appearance had a significant impact on his decision, saying: "That was important; I think it shows that Celtic believed in me before the World Cup and before everyone saw me on the big stage."
