One of the biggest problems with joining the academy at a huge club is always going to be finding a way into the first team, so it’s often the case that players need to move on to benefit their careers.
Liam Henderson is an interesting case because we don’t see too many players go abroad, but he already had some experience with Rosenborg and in 2017 he opted to move to Italian side Bari.
He’s had a good time in Italy since making the move and he even had a taste of Serie A with Hellas Verona, although he currently finds himself in the second tier with Lecce.
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He’s already starting to impress with his new club, to the point that he’s already being tipped to make a move to a big Serie A side very soon.
A report from MSN picked up some comments from Italian pundit Vincenzo Sicignano, and he clearly thinks Henderson is far too go for his current level:
” Liam Henderson is clearly Lecce’s best player this season and that doesn’t surprise me at all. In Serie B, a player like him is absolutely wasted.”
“It’s a real luxury for Lecce to have someone like him in their team. He’s a phenomenal player who shows real quality and can play all across midfield.”
“For me, he should be playing in Serie A with a big club. He can play as a holding midfielder, but I think his best role is just behind the strikers as an attacking midfielder.”
“Lecce did extremely well when they signed him for this season.”
He’s already been on permanent deals with Bari, Hellas Verona and Lecce so there’s no sign of Celtic getting any meaningful sell on clause if he gets a big move, but it would still be good to see him playing at the highest level.
He clearly did the right thing by leaving because he was never going to get the chance to properly establish himself in the side, and he’s adapted well to a new country and playing style.
Celtic are currently stacked in midfield so there’s no sense in brining him back now, but it might be worth looking at him as a target in a few years once Scott Brown retires and players like Ntcham and Rogic possibly move on.
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