Newcastle United were allegedly keen on Celtic’s 13-year-old sensation Karamoko Dembele.
General view of the top of the Stadium
Park Villa coach Peter Paton has told the Daily Mail that Newcastle United were interested in Celtic sensation Karamoko Dembele five years ago.
Dembele has hit the headlines this week, as he was brought on as a substitute for Celtic’s Under-20 side against Hearts on Monday. The reason his introduction was so special? He’s only 13.
General view of Celtic Park
Barely a teenager, Dembele was brought on against players seven years his senior in a landmark moment for Celtic’s youth setup, with many now excited about what the future holds for Dembele.
Born in London to Ivorian parents before moving up to Scotland at a young age, diminutive playmaker Dembele is now being tipped for the top over the coming years, with many captivated by YouTube videos of him dancing past defenders with magical dribbling ability.
General view inside Celtic Park
Celtic appear to have struck gold with Dembele, but one of the 13-year-old’s former coaches has now opened up on how Newcastle United were also keen on signing him some time ago.
Dembele spent four years with coach Peter Paton at Park Villa in Glasgow, and Paton has told the Daily Mail of how he saw Dembele’s talent when he was playing with a tennis ball in a school playground.
Celtic fans
Paton added that ‘Kaddy’ is a special, natural player, and Newcastle wanted to sign him at the age of just eight before Celtic swooped in to land him.
“I saw it right from the day I saw Kaddy playing in the school playground with a tennis ball that he was a real talent,” said Paton. “But when you saw him out on the pitch he was really special, a natural. I remember him getting player of the tournament in a competition in Crosshouse at the age of eight and Newcastle scouts were sniffing all around him.”
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