£16m man shares what he ‘never had’ before joining Celtic and ‘only regret’ since leaving

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Southampton ace Mohamed Elyounoussi has told The Guardian that he has just one regret from his time as a Celtic player after enjoying two loan transfers to the Premiership giants.

Elyounoussi endured a difficult debut season at St Mary’s after joining the south coast side from Basel in 2018. The Norway international only made 16 Premier League appearances, starting eight, following a £16m move to England.

Celtic swooped on Elyounoussi’s situation at Southampton the following summer to strike a season-long loan transfer for the 27-year-old. But his Parkhead spell hit an early bump after returning from international duty with a foot injury.

By the time Elyounoussi returned, the coronavirus pandemic had started to take hold and the Premiership season soon ended early. He would return the following campaign on loan again, but fans remained locked out of Parkhead.

Elyounoussi considers never feeling Parkhead with fans at full voice his only regret from his two Celtic loan transfers. Adding that he had never previously experienced a feeling like the Bhoys fanbase conjured during the League Cup final against Rangers in December 2019.

“When you score in an empty stadium, it’s like scoring in a garden,” Elyounoussi said. “It is so quiet, and you do not actually feel anything. That was my only regret.

“It was a shame I couldn’t feel [the atmosphere]. We played in a [Scottish] Cup final against Rangers and it was electric. The pitch was shaking. It was something I never had before.”

Celtic stay sees Elyounoussi return to his best for Southampton

Elyounoussi celebrated 10 Premiership goals and six assists over 34 appearances during his second loan transfer from Southampton to Celtic. The £60k-a-week winger has since used his Parkhead form to secure a second chance at St Mary’s this season.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has started the forward in five of his six Premier League outings so far this term. Only missing the Saints’ opening two fixtures while left an unused substitute against Everton and Manchester United. While scoring on his term debut at Newcastle.