Knowing that Moussa Dembélé wasn’t going to stay at Parkhead forever, Celtic prepared their future at the striker position by acquiring Odsonne Edouard, first on loan, and then permanently for €10.3m.
It was a move that was repaid more than once, as the 25-year-old would go on and score 87 goals and assist another 38 in 179 appearances for the club before leaving in 2021 in exchange for €16.3m.
Celtic were sad to see him go, but, much like Dembélé, they knew they wouldn’t be able to keep him beyond a certain point, as the player made it clear he wanted the Premier League, which he discussed in an interview with Foot Mercato on Tuesday.
Revealing that the move to Scotland was ‘very different’ to what life was like at Paris Saint-Germain, Edouard knew what he had to do.
He said: “It’s a great club who needed a striker at that time. They gave me the chance to express myself, to play regularly. Obviously, when you have time on the pitch, you can show your qualities, what you can do.
“It worked out nicely for me since I was able to score goal after goal, to play a lot and find a certain stability. It’s what allowed me to express my talent and score goals.”
Knowing that life as a footballer is short, he did his best to never doubt himself and keep working hard to reach his ultimate goal, which was England’s top-tier.
He continued: “From the moment I signed in Scotland, my final aim was the Premier League. I worked very hard while trying to perform at my best to, one day, reach my goal, which was the Premier League. In 2021, I had the chance to join Palace, and I jumped at the chance.”
In short, he always knew Celtic was a stepping stone, and while that might not sit well with some Parkhead regulars, he did so while showing a loyalty over four years and scoring a vast number of goals the local supporters will remember for years to come.
