Big opportunity for Balikwisha. Martin O’Neill could be the very man to resurrect his Celtic career…
Michel-Ange Balikwisha. Hearts v Celtic, 26 October 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Michel-Ange Balikwisha hasn’t exactly hit the ground running Celtic since his £5 million move from Royal Antwerp in the summer transfer window.
The former Belgian under 21 internationalist and current DR Congo international has flattered to deceive, and it beggars belief that this is a player we reportedly spent two years scouting.
Balikwisha has just recently returned to Glasgow after a disappointing AFCON with DR Congo, and has yet to appear under Martin O’Neill in his second interim spell, leading to speculation that he’s been subjected to the cold shoulder treatment by the Irishman, but the veteran manager quelled those rumours by thoroughly explaining his plans for the £5 million man.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
O’Neill once again showcased the powers of man management that he’s famously known for as he praised the 24 year old as a person and footballer, and said he would be handed his chance to impress starting on Sunday, when he claimed that the former Standard Liege man would play some part in the game against Auchinleck Talbet at Rugby park.
More interestingly, MON explained that he sees Balikwisha as more of a number ten type player, playing off the main striker, and stated quite clearly that he doesn’t see him as a winger, the role he was brought into fulfil.
“He’s a very, very nice footballer… My view would be that he would be more like a number ten. “He wouldn’t be a full-blown striker & he’s definitely not a wide player,” Martin O’Neill said yesterday.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha of Celtic during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Celtic FC and SK Sturm Graz at Celtic Park on October 23, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Sidestepping the issue that our inept scouting department spent two years closely monitoring a player for a position he’s not truly comfortable in, it’s a glimmer of hope for the player to be handed a fresh chance under a man as qualified and experienced as Martin O’Neill.
Balikwisha has of course played in the number ten role in the past, and his overall career stats are mighty decent, so it’s quite clear that he’s a quality footballer, he just needs the confidence and belief to fulfil his true potential.
What better man than Martin O’Neill to make him unleash that potential?
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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Why was he signed as a winger? Who is scouting these players? Celtic is in rapid decline, f#ck off Celtic plc
Unfortunately for balikwisha he seems to fall into the category, of players struggling with the physical element the Scottish football requires.
We currently have a squad with way to many players struggling or just don’t fancy the physical element of the Scottish game imo?
MoN and Maloney still will have to try and find solutions to the issue on show, especially when many teams are able to adapt a man to man marking approach within our midfield areas?
As our team set up is like a 4231,
we already have Hatate, Nygren and McCowan for that role, yet all are to capable of giving away cheap ball, leaving ourselves very open in the transition. Hardly helps with ourselves getting out numbered in the midfield areas, if we haven’t got a good tempo to our game.
We still are trying to operate without the striker, with a strong hold up game, to make that attacking midfield option, more influential within a match also imo?
Maybe tomorrow if a returning kelchi and balikwisha, can form a relationship that hasn’t really been in existence since the kyogo and Oreily days imo?
Could be something MoN and Maloney are thinking about for our remaining 2 europa league games, but wouldn’t be overly confident that such a potential partnership would work to well within our SPFL campaign imo?