Scottish Premiership champions Celtic reportedly demanded £9million for Simunovic in 2017 but he has struggled under Brendan Rodgers since.
Jozo Simunovic has spent much of the last 18 months making a mockery of the £9 million price tag Celtic put on his head in the summer of 2017, as reported by the Mail.
At the time, Leicester City, Crystal Palace and Watford were all allegedly making enquiries for the Scottish Premiership champion. But it’s telling that, despite interest from south of the border in many of his Parkhead teammates, Simunovic has been absent from the gossip columns in recent months.
He was a shadow of his former self last season, making just 15 league appearances with mistakes creeping into his game.
But, on Thursday night, Simunovic rolled back the years, producing the kind of performance that explains why he was once valued at £9 million.
The former Croatia U21 international was arguably the Man of the Match as 10-man Celtic fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat away at Valencia in the Europa League round of 32 after all.
The Hoops started well but found themselves pinned back once Jeremy Toljan had been sent off late in the first half.
Valencia dominated and would have won by more than a single Kevin Gameiro strike if it wasn’t for Simunovic, who was in the right place at the right time again and again to make a number of superb clearances and last-ditch interceptions.
With Dedryck Boyata and Filip Benkovic set to leave next summer, Celtic will be hoping this display is not just a one off.
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