Karamoko Dembele is not the only promising youngster to emerge at Celtic in recent years.
Celtic fans
Celtic made headlines around the world this week when they picked 13-year-old whizkid Karamoko Dembele in an under-20 game.
The sight of the youngster playing alongside prospects twice his height was astonishing to see, and there are understandably high hopes for him for the future.
Celtic will be hoping they can hold onto him, and their chances are enhanced by the fall from grace of the previous top talent to shine in similar circumstances.
Islam Feruz made his debut for Celtic in a testimonial match at just 14, and there were similarly high hopes for the young striker, but he left the club without ever playing a first team game.
Islam Feruz – Chelsea
The youngster was tempted away by Chelsea in 2011, where his chances of making the first team were far more difficult.
After a bright start in the academy, Feruz was sent out on loan, and never really settled anywhere.
He had spells at OFI Crete, Blackpool and Hibernian but failed to make it into double figures in terms of appearances for any of the clubs.
Islam Feruz – Chelsea
He remains under contract to Chelsea until 2019, and is just 21, but his chances of making it with the Blues look slim.
On deadline day he was sent out on loan to Belgian side Excel Mouscron for the season, where he has made two appearances so far, for a combined 65 minutes of football.
Islam Feruz – Chelsea in action
Feruz was a player who could not cope with the early spotlight, and was tempted away from Celtic too soon, nor live up to the expectations upon him.
He is still searching for his first professional goal, and is not where he would have expected to be at 21.
Karamoko Dembele will be well advised to stay at Celtic and grow with the club which have given him support at this early stage of his career, and if he doubts that, all he has to do is look at Feruz – who made the crucial mistake of leaving at the wrong time.
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