No regrets – Ramon Vega’s career advice to Cameron Carter-Vickers

The saying ‘act in haste, repent at leisure’ is one former Celtic defender Ramon Vega knows all about. After arriving at Celtic from Spurs on loan in 2000, the Swiss central defender knocked back the chance to stay at Celtic Park under Martin O’Neill, and the big fella had often been honest about his regrets at that decision, though appears to indicate the chance wasn’t there these days, rather than admit his eventual move to Watford wasn’t the wisest choice.

However, despite his recent change of tack, Vega is keen to offer Cameron Carter-Vickers a little career advice, based on his own missed opportunity, as quoted in Daily Record and the message is clear for CCV, you don’t even have to think Cameron!

“I hope that Carter-Vickers has the opportunity that I didn’t have. The chance was not there for me to stay because I certainly would have done. Celtic wouldn’t have even had to have paid £6 million for me. I was free and I didn’t get the chance which I would have loved.

“If I was him and the opportunity is there for this move to become a permanent thing, it’s not even a question mark because you will improve an enormous amount. You would be taking a massive step up in your career to be working within a massive club.

“Every time any player would ask me about going to Celtic, I’d say don’t even think about it. Get on a bike and cycle there because you are going to play very good football and represent a huge club. It is always the case when going from another club into a new life and a new opportunity, it gives an enormous boost.

“It’s a new environment and, if it starts clicking with the team doing well and performing, it helps to bring out the best in you.”

Cameron Carter Vickers may sound like the solicitor who was assigned to you at the Cop Shop after that drunken night out got out of hand, but this one’s abilities to defend are better than any on duty brief you may ever have encountered.

CCV has been a rock at the back and the spine of the defence alongside Carl Starfelt, with Joe Hart behind that has led to Celtic having the best defensive record in the top flight, something that would have seemed fanciful just a few months ago.

As such if the deal to sign the player can be done quickly, it’s bound to suit all parties. Spurs clearly don’t see a future for the player, Ange Postecoglou clearly wants the lad and now it will be down to Carter Vickers to decide.

The comparisons with the Ramon Vega situation 21 years ago are there for all to see, Vega in the end made a snap decision, that despite his position now changing, he clearly repented at leisure. If CCV is in any way sitting on the fence, perhaps Ramon Vega’s regrets will be worth taking into consideration.

Niall J

And for those who missed this one yesterday on The Celtic Star, here’s a catch-up chance to check out the photographs given to this site by the former Celtic Director Tom Grant of the demolition of the old Celtic Park and in its place the emergence of the New Celtic Park which we know and love today. These photographs are fascinating and well worth checking out on the link below…

READ THIS…Exclusive – A Phoenix Rising, a House of Steel. Celtic Park Redevelopment Photographs