“I think it’s right for him to be with Celtic,” Rudi Vata on Rocco

Rudi Vata has opened up on his son Rocco’s situation at Celtic amid on-going interest in the player from a number of clubs in Italy but in the end he reckons that Rocco wants to be at Celtic.

“I think it’s right for him to be with Celtic, to get more game time,” Rocco concludes after an interesting, lengthy explanation of his boy’s current situation and where he thinks he’ll be playing his football next season.

“I think he wants to be with Celtic, and I think it’s right for him to be at Celtic to get more game time. If he gets that game time, I think he will produce what he’s capable of producing. He’s improved a lot, all he needs to do now is get that opportunity,” Rudi Vata

Interestingly Albanian born Rudi, who played for Celtic in the 1990s, doesn’t reckon that his son is ready to move abroad and believes that he is better staying at Celtic. This incidentally has been what The Celtic Star been saying for many months as Celtic pondered whether or not to make a contract offer to the 18 year old who scored his first professional goal for Celtic on Sunday after coming off the bench in the Scottish Cup win over Highland League side Buckie Thistle.

Rocco has been at Celtic since he was seven and has alway dreamed of making it as a Celtic player, it’s the club he supports and while he is prepared to make a move abroad to further his career, his dad reckons he’s not yet ready for that.

Rocco’s problem has been the apparent reluctance of Celtic to look at his contract situation as he enters the final five months of his current deal. That appears to be something that is now on the agenda, if not on the table just yet. This transfer story had been flawed from the early stages due to misreporting with media claims that Rocco Vata had rejected an offer from Celtic, when this was clearly not the case.

Interestingly, Rocco Vata was used as an impact substitute in the striker’s role on Sunday, replacing Kyogo when the tie was won. That could be in the manager’s plans over the coming weeks with both Oh and Daizen Maeda away at the Asian Cup. Rudi is hoping that Rocco can get some game-time to prove his worth as a Celtic player. That exactly what could be about to happen.

RUDI VATA AT THE 1995 – 1996 CELTIC PHOTOCALL. Photo Allsport UK/ALLSPORT

Have a listen to what Rudi Vata has been saying on the Off The Ball podcast…

🗣 ‘I tell him all the time: when the manager is wrong, he’s still right.’

Rudi Vata details how he’s helped his son Rocco cope with his frustrations at not getting more minutes for #CelticFC.

Enjoy the full chat now ➡ become a member now at https://t.co/zjoL9xmFEd. pic.twitter.com/pRAIsQxPik

— Off The Ball (@offtheball) January 23, 2024

Brendan Rodgers was asked if it was a special moment for both young Celts, Rocco Vata and Daniel Kelly, getting some game-time against Buckie Thistle. His reply at his post-match media conference was interesting.

“For both young players, Rocco has played before and he has potential. He needs a lot of work but he has lots of attributes. He is strong, he has decent pace and he wants to score goals. It is all about discipline for young players and doing the work and having the right attitude.

“It was nice for him as he gets that feeling of scoring. He has been here since he was a kid and it is a great moment for him and his family.

“I have been really impressed with Daniel Kelly too. He is a young player, he has got good physicality and is naturally left-footed and he has good energy. His attitude is so good and it was nice for him to feel that experience.

“For those young guys to get a taste of it is great and it is about their mentality and wanting to keep improving,” the Celtic manager said.