Xavier Mbuyamba has confirmed he wants to ‘leave’ FC Volendam this summer while handing Scottish Premiership champions Celtic a boost in their pursuit of the former Barcelona and Chelsea youngster.
After missing out on a 17-year-old Xavier Mbuyamba back in 2019 – the then-MVV Maastricht whizzkid understandably opting to enrol himself in Barca’s fabled La Masia finishing school instead – it seemed that history would repeat itself for long-time admirers Celtic.
The now-21-year-old centre-half is, according to Sky Sports and the Daily Mail, still very much on the Hoops’ radar.
Reports claiming that Mbuyamba had agreed a £2 million move to Sampdoria last week, then, suggested that Celtic were set to suffer the same fate as four years ago.
So it will come as some relief that, during an interview with ESPN, Mbuyamba was at pains to point out that he is yet to give the green-light to a late-summer switch to a side relegated from Serie A last season.
Celtic are still in the race, as things stand.
Celtic still in with a shot at Xavier Mbuyamba
“I was contacted (by Sampdoria). And an offer was made,” says the towering Dutchman, who also spent time at Chelsea after leaving Barcelona. “(But reports) that I have already agreed with Sampdoria are not correct.
“If the right club comes, I want to leave. Volendam want to keep me, but I don’t think they will keep me at any cost.
“Obviously, you have to think very carefully if a good offer is made.”
While things are looking up for Sampdoria following Andrea Radrizzani’s takeover and the appointment of Andrea Pirlo as their new manager, Serie B football pales in comparison to the prospect of Champions League action at Celtic.
But, after bringing in Maik Nawrocki from Polish football last month, any concrete approach for Mbuyamba is only likely to arrive if the Hoops lose Carl Starfelt and/or Stephen Welsh before the September deadline.
Starfelt has been linked with a return to Russia via Spartak Moscow. The capital city club need a centre-half after Tottenham’s Davinson Sanchez opted to rebuff their advances.
“Yes, it’s true. Sanchez finally refused the possibility of moving to Spartak,” the Colombian’s representative tells Sport Express.
Tottenham had initially accepted Spartak’s £13 million offer.
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