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Moussa Dembele’s agent discloses promise Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers made him before he joined Hoops

General view outside Celtic Park before the game (Reuters)
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Moussa Dembele was one of Europe’s hottest properties in the summer before ultimately joining Celtic.

Celtic's Moussa Dembele reactsCeltic’s Moussa Dembele

Moussa Dembele’s agent Mamadi Fofana has told the Daily Record that Brendan Rodgers promised the striker that he would have fun if he joined Celtic and suggested that he phone Luis Suarez or Raheem Sterling if he needed a recommendation about Rodgers’ abilities to get the best out of him.

Dembele was deemed to be one of the brightest prospects in Europe when his Fulham contract expired last summer. The Record reports that Juventus were just one of the sides interested in the 20-year-old.

However, the Frenchman decided to move to the Scottish Premiership and join the Hoops. And Fofana has disclosed the first conversation that the youngster and Rodgers shared while he was considering his options.

“What he promised Moussa was that he’d have fun, he’d get his chances to play and he’d be at a top club with everything put in place for him to become a better player, so long as you are willing to work,” he told the Record.

Celtic manager Brendan RodgersCeltic manager Brendan Rodgers

“He said: If you don’t believe me, take my phone, call Luis Suarez and ask him what he thinks about me, call Raheem Sterling. I’ve developed many players and you can be one of those, but it’s up to you.”

There is no question that Rodgers has been as good as his word. Dembele has undoubtedly taken his game to the next level under the Northern Irishman, and it is difficult to imagine that he has not enjoyed his time at Parkhead.

General view outside Celtic Park before the game

Dembele has scored 27 times in 41 games in all competitions for the Bhoys, and has made an impression in the Champions League, scoring a brace against Manchester City as well as another in the draw with Borussia Monchengladbach.

And, of course, his recent form has been scarcely believable. He has scored seven times in his last three games, which is more than any Rangers player has managed in the top flight all season.