Jeahze comments could explain why Celtic’s attention turned to Bernabei

Alexandro Bernabei looks to be the player expected to rotate with Greg Taylor for the left back position at Celtic this season, with the Lanus full back now rumoured to have completed his medical and likely to be announced, perhaps as soon as today.

Having served one of his two matches  he’s banned from after that sending off last weekend, Bernabei will actually be free from any suspension if Celtic wait another week until next Monday before formalising the deal.

And whilst Bernabei is likely to be the man who has claimed the place in Ange Postecoglou’s ongoing Celtic rebuild, it appears there are regrets for another player linked with that very position.

Hammarby’s Iraqi international left back Mohanad Jeahze was heavily linked with Celtic over the last few months, despite Ange Postecoglou claiming a club press conference he’s never heard of the player, and now it appears Jeahze has hinted Celtic was a possible destination, whilst also lifting the lid on the reasons why that particular deal didn’t come to fruition.

As reported in Swedish publication Aftonbladet Jeahze has intimated the deal wasn’t to his or his club’s taste, yet an apparently throwaway line may well explain why Bernabei and not Jeahze will be wearing the Hoops next season –

“I think I will stay at Hammarby,” Jeahze said.  “I have a contract for another year. I’m fully set on that now and Jeppe (Hammarby Sporting Director) has said no to something, too.”

“Yes (on reported interest in the player). But that was not enough for any of us. Neither me nor Hammarby. It was a good team.

“Maybe I was not so hungry for it. I have patience. Maybe something else will come this summer. It is clear that I want to go abroad at some point. Everyone has a dream of trying something new.”

Ange Postecoglou has often said the ability of the player is only part of what he wants from a player, and it appear if indeed Celtic was the team interested in Jeahze that perhaps the players appetite for donning the Hoops didn’t quite marry with the expectations of the manager.

Last summer it was reported Patrick Roberts was lined up to move back to Celtic, yet after a conversation with Ange Postecoglou that deal was never finalised, yet after a five-minute conversation in January Matt O’Riley and Postecoglou were clearly on the same page.

Credit: Sunderland FC

There is no doubting Roberts footballing ability, but whatever happened in that conversation it would appear Postecoglou wasn’t left convinced, and it seems that may well have been the case with Mohanad Jeahze.

Ange Postecoglou’s recruitment drive has been impressive, his average for getting signings right is ridiculously high in comparison to other clubs and even previous managers at Celtic. Much of that it would appear is as much town to personality as it is to playing ability as is evidenced by the emergence of an exciting squad, but also a group who appear both close-knit and driven.

Mohanad Jeahze may well have explained why Alexandro Bernabei is signing for Celtic and not the Hammarby left back, and it may be down appetite rather than solely ability.

Niall J

About Author

As a Bellshill Bhoy I was taken to my first Celtic game in the summer of 1987. It was Billy McNeill’s return to Celtic Park as manager and Celtic lost 5-1 to Arsenal . I thought I was a jinx, I think my Grandfather might have thought the same. It was the finest gift anyone ever gave me when he walked me through Parkhead's gates.

Comments are closed.