Neil Lennon has discussed Karamoko Dembele’s future at Celtic.
Ex-Bolton Wanderers manager Neil Lennon
Hibernian boss Neil Lennon has warned Celtic not to let teenage sensation Karamoko Dembele become the next Islam Feruz, as quoted by the Daily Mail.
Bhoys playmaker Dembele has hit the headlines this week, as the 13-year-old came on as a substitute for Celtic’s Under-20’s against Hearts on Monday.
Islam Feruz in action for Chelsea
Already featuring against players around seven years his senior, there is plenty of excitement about Dembele, who has been hailed as the next big thing for the Bhoys moving forward.
Of course, many young players never fulfil their potential, and Celtic saw Islam Feruz fall by the wayside after leaving the club to join Chelsea back in 2011.
Feruz, much like Dembele, was playing for Celtic at a young age, but chose to trade in Celtic Park for a shot at success at Stamford Bridge aged just 16.
Islam Feruz of Chelsea celebrates scoring
Since then, Feruz has failed to even make his debut for Chelsea, and has made just 13 senior appearances in his entire career, during loan spells with OFI Crete, Blackpool, Hibernian and current loan club Mouscron-Peruwelz.
Feruz’s career serves as a huge warning to Dembele, who is attracting interest from the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Manchester United, according to The Sun.
Former Bolton manager Neil Lennon before the match
Now, Hibernian boss Neil Lennon – who was in charge of Celtic at the time of Feruz’s departure – has told the Daily Mail that Dembele should look at Feruz’s career and stay at Celtic, where he will be protected and developed correctly; something Chelsea arguably didn’t do with Feruz.
“Advice? Don’t run too soon,” said Lennon. “Celtic as a club will do everything they can to protect him and do things in his best interest. He is obviously a talent but he is still young and needs protected and handled the right way. I’m sure the club will do that. We would do the same for any player we had of that talent. Celtic want to keep a hold of Dembele and develop him in the right way.”
“I am sure there were lessons learned from Islam’s situation. We felt at the time that he was making the wrong decision. I don’t think he had the right structure in the background on the personal side of things to deal with what was lying ahead. I think Islam is an example and there are many other examples out there. I don’t know the boy’s background and his family. But he’s a talent and he is good to watch – and he just needs nurtured and protected. We live in age where clubs are well structured to do that,” he added.
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