Celtic missed out on a “devastating” talent during the transfer window who could be the new Edgar Davids, Udinese sporting director Pierpaolo Marino has told Calciomercato.
The Serie A side may have beaten Celtic to Soppy’s signing but how long the highly rated right-back spends at the Stadio Friuli is anyone’s guess.
Premier League newcomers Watford made an approach for 19-year-old Soppy in August and, as you may have noticed, players tend to switch from Udinese to Vicarage Road – and vice-versa – on a regular basis (L’Equipe).
In the past ten years, more than 50 transfer deals have been struck between the two clubs with the likes of Gerard Deulofeu, Roberto Pereyra and Ignacio Pussetto strolling a well-worn path.
Isaac Success joined Udinese just last week after his ill-fated, injury-hit spell in Hertfordshire came to an end.
So it would be no surprise to see Soppy wearing yellow and black sooner rather than later, especially if the £1.5 million signing lives up to Marino’s expectations on the banks of the Adriatic.
Celtic and Watford eyed Brandon Soppy before Udinese swooped
“He is a boy with the characteristics of a player ready (to make an impact). He can help immediately but we will give him time to fit in, he already has some experience from Rennes,” says Marino, drawing comparisons between Soppy and a former Juventus, Ajax and Barcelona superstar.
“Even if he plays in a different position, in his shooting ability he reminds me of (Edgar) Davids. He has the acceleration that, on the wing, can make him devastating.”
Soppy was one of many right-backs linked with a move to Celtic during the summer transfer window, including George Baldock, Milan van Ewijk and Sacha Boey.
Boey, interestingly, said he turned down the Glasgow giants in favour of Galatasaray – labelling the Turkish Super Lig challengers a “bigger club”.
Celtic fans will have something to say about that…
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