James McCarthy comments on his love for Celtic

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Crystal Palace midfielder James McCarthy has reiterated his love for Celtic.

Crystal Palace midfielder James McCarthy has told the club’s matchday programme, as quoted by the Daily Record, that he’d love to play for Celtic in an Old Firm derby.

Palace swooped to sign McCarthy from Everton this past summer, handing him a £50,000-a-week deal at Selhurst Park according to Spotrac.

The Irishman had lost his way at Everton, but was attracting major interest, with the Daily Mail claiming that Celtic and Newcastle United had been interested.

Neil Lennon seemingly wanted McCarthy at Parkhead, but he chose to stay in the Premier League, meaning that dream move to Celtic still hasn’t occurred.

McCarthy grew up supporting Celtic and did try out with their youth team as a kid, but was turned down due to the club having too many youth players to take him on, as he told The Herald.

McCarthy hasn’t let that halt his love for the Bhoys, as he was spotted watching Celtic in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals in 2016, sporting a Celtic scarf too.

Now, McCarthy has admitted that he has always been a Celtic fan and would go to watch games with his brothers, with his whole family supporting the Bhoys too.

McCarthy added that Old Firm games have an ‘amazing atmosphere’, and hinted that he’d be interested in moving to Celtic in the future by suggesting he’d like to play in an Old Firm game – but whether a move will ever actually happen remains to be seen.

“Early football for me was always playing as a kid,” said McCarthy. “I’ve always been a Celtic fan; all my family are Celtic fans. From when I was born, I’ve had the Celtic strips. Obviously as a kid, you’re always watching. We’d go and watch the games. My brothers used to take me. I went to quite a lot of them (games against Rangers). I was younger, maybe eight or nine.”

“I’d always be at the game. It’s an amazing atmosphere, an incredible atmosphere and one that you really enjoy. You always find you want to play in something like that. We’ve got good fans here (at Palace) and the noise at home is very good. It’s important and the fans travel well for away days.”