As reported by The Scottish Sun, Celtic have signed Barkas from AEK Athens for a transfer fee of £4.5 million.
The 26-year-old Greece international goalkeeper has explained what his compatriot and Celtic great Samaras told him about the Glasgow giants.
Barkas has also disclosed the chats he had with Celtic manager Neil Lennon before he made the decision to switch to the Glasgow giants.
Barkas told The Scottish Sun: “I spoke with Samaras before I came to Celtic. I have a very good friend who is close with Samaras and has a very good relationship with him.
“He just said ‘go, don’t even think about it’. He told me how Celtic was a very big team and the fans loved the team so much and were crazy about the team. That made my decision easier.”
The Daily Record quotes Barkas as saying: “The manager spoke to me about the club, the pressure here and that he wants us to be champions again.
“That’s one of the reasons I came here, and I think that him and I have a very good relationship so far.”
Good signing for Celtic?
Barkas is a very good goalkeeper who will make Celtic a better and stronger team.
With Craig Gordon having left this summer after his contract ran out and Fraser Forster having gone back to his parent club Southampton after a loan spell at Celtic Park in 2019-20, the Hoops needed to sign a player between the posts.
Celtic are aiming to win the Scottish Premiership title for the 10th season in a row in 2020-21, and while they will be favourites, bitter Old Firm rivals Rangers will be determined to stop that from happening.
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