Celtic boss admits Italian temptation for Bellamy

By European Football
April 22 2005

Martin O’Neill has admitted striker Craig Bellamy could be tempted into a summer move to Serie A Currently on loan from Newcastle, Bellamy has become a firm crowd favourite with Celtic, but O’Neill fears that the temptation of a big summer move abroad might be too much for Bellamy to resist.

“At the end of the season, Craig Bellamy will be in huge demand,” O’Neill said. “I hope that Celtic will be one of those teams that will be in for him. He will have a lot of choice and I believe those clubs who want him will come not just from Britain, but also in Europe.

“Craig is a big student of European football. He could probably reel off eight players from the current Bologna side right now — though I am not saying that he is going to Bologna — but he has a big knowledge of European football and he may well want to go down that route.

“All I did when he came here was ask him to enjoy himself. We took advantage of the fact that his heart was probably still at Newcastle when he came here on loan. However, things change. The fans have taken to him. He a bit like Henrik Larsson, in that he has earned their respect.

“Henrik was not just a great goal scorer, but a great player and talisman. He was difficult to replace. In fact, I could have had £10 million and still not replaced him. Being a new signing helps you for about five minutes with the fans, then you have earn their respect — and Craig has.”


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