Celtic showed interest in Australian youngster Riley McGree in the summer but the midfielder moved to Belgium with Club Brugge instead.
Celtic are the masters of uncovering young talent before anyone else in European football has even heard their name. Virgil van Dijk, Victor Wanyama and Tom Rogic (above) were pretty much unknown outside of their home countries when getting their big break at Parkhead, after all.
Who knows how far Riley McGree could have progressed then, had he swapped the sun of Australia for the sleet of Scotland in the summer transfer window. The Scottish Sun reported in May that Celtic had been showing ‘a lot of interest’ in the 18-year-old Adelaide United midfielder.
McGree is one of the hottest prospects down under and was even handed a World Cup qualifying call-up by Australia national team boss Ange Postecoglou earlier in the year.
Like his compatriot Rogic, who has evolved into one of the most impressive players in Scotland since moving from Central Coast Mariners in 2012, McGree could have taken his game to a whole new level in British football – particularly under the stewardship of one Brendan Rodgers.
Brugge off
Instead, McGree moved to Belgian side Club Brugge instead on a four-year deal, as reported by Adelaide Now. So far, however, the teenager has not even made his Jupiler League debut.
And while Belgium can be a fertile breeding ground for young talent, perhaps McGree might have benefited more from following his compatriot Rogic to Celtic.
After all, Rodgers is one of the best managers around when it comes to helping young players fulfil their potential and he has no qualms about throwing them in at the deep end.
As Rogic will testify, his game has come on leaps and bounds in just over a year in Rodgers’ company.
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