Celtic reportedly wanted to bring Cluj striker Billel Omrani to the Scottish Premiership after he knocked them out of the Champions League.
A 1-1 draw away at a Rennes side who reached the Europa League round of 16 last season and gave Arsenal one hell of a scare along the way? Celtic would have taken that before the game and most definitely after Kristoffer Ajer’s naïve challenge gifted the Ligue 1 outfit a first-half lead from the penalty spot.
Thanks to Ryan Christe, who himself slotted home from 12 yards, Celtic have a point on the board after their first Europa League game of the season at a typically raucous Roazhon Park.
But while Neil Lennon’s side lacked the requisite firepower to turn one creditable point into three, Cluj had no such problems elsewhere in Group E.
The Romanians caused a shock by beating group favourites Lazio 2-1 on Thursday night to go top of the standings – and it was a player heavily linked with Celtic who scored the all-important winning goal.
According to GSP, Celtic had made a £3 million bid for Billel Omrani after he scored twice against them in that famous 4-3 defeat to Cluj in Champions League qualifying. By the time the transfer window slammed shut, however, Omrani was still in Romania and, via a bizarre twist of fate, he’ll face Celtic two more times before the end of the year.
The in-form striker netted his tenth goal of the season already with a late, looping header against Lazio and he will be desperate to remind Celtic what they’re missing when this new European rivalry is renewed in a few weeks’ time.
Have something to tell us about this article?
