Celtic’s reported goalkeeper target Ofir Marciano has admitted he has decided to leave Hibernian when his contract expires in the summer transfer window, speaking to the Daily Record.
While the Hoops more than held their own during yesterday’s Old Firm derby draw with Steven Gerrard’s Rangers, there was still one of those ‘heart in mouth’ moments when it looked as though Scott Bain had gifted the newly crowned Premiership champions a dramatic winner.
Bain cannoned a dreadful clearance straight off Stephen Welsh with just a few minutes remaining at Parkhead.
The Celtic shot-stopper shrugged off his moment of madness but certainly wouldn’t have been laughing had Kemar Roofe accepted the gift that almost came his way.
Be it Bain, Conor Hazard or Vasilis Barkas, goalkeeping errors have been a feature of Celtic’s season.
And with one of the most reliable shot-stoppers in Scotland available on a free transfer this summer, no wonder the Glasgow giants are showing an interest (Edinburgh Live).
Marciano has rejected the chance to sign a new contract at Easter Road and will bid an emotional farewell to Hibernian when 2020/21 comes to an end.
“Everything in life is a gamble depending on how you look at it. It’s not an easy decision for me because I will always see myself as a Hibs man,” says the 29-year-old Israeli, an international teammate of Nir Bitton.
“My family is settled here. I had my first son in Scotland. The club has been so good to me. I have really enjoyed my football here over the last five years.
“So it has not been an easy decision. But at this moment I think it is something I have to do for myself.
“There are some factors in this decision (wanting a pay rise is one of them). I am not trying to hide it.”
Marciano has been linked with a return to his homeland in recent weeks.
But if he really is “settled” in Scotland, you’d imagine he would be tempted by the chance to swap Hibernian for Celtic, even if the Hoops face an uncertain future without a manager or director of football in place.
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