Transfer Latest – Celtic grant permission to Bologna to speak to Rocco Vata

Celtic have this morning granted permission to Italian side Bologna to speak to Celtic B team star Rocco Vata according to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph. He reports that talks are now ongoing and with the Serie A side exploring a permanent transfer in this window alongside a pre-contract agreement where Vata would leave Celtic at the end of the season after running down his contract.

Celtic v Motherwell – cinch Premiership – Celtic Park Celtics Rocco Vata during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Saturday April 22, 2023. Photo Steve Welsh

Celtic has not made much of an effort to retain the services of Vata, who has been at the club coming through the Celtic Academy for a decade. His dad of course is Rudi Vata who played for Celtic in the mid-1990s and of course represented Albania. Rocco though is making his way in international football with Ireland and he is now a regular in their Under 21 squad.

Rocco was in and around the Celtic first team squad last season with Ange Postecoglou giving him minutes against Hibs at Easter Road and in December 2022 and also against Motherwell at Celtic Park towards the end of last season.

28th December 2022 Easter Road, Edinburgh, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, Hibernian versus Celtic Rocco Vata on the ball PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK ActionPlus12461768 VagelisxGeorgariou

However the B team players who had been training with the first team were sent back down to play for Stephen McManus and Darren O’Dea’s side in the Lowland League at the start of this season as Rodgers tried to get to grips with the over-staffed first team squad while welcoming a number of project signings from around the world.

The Celtic Academy players really need to see a viable route to the Celtic first team and many will be asking themselves if Rocco Vata can’t make it, what chance have I got?

Best of luck to Rocco, it seems clear that this move is going to be in his own interest, despite the emotional trauma of having to leave the club he supports and has always wanted to play for. It’s a brutal game sometimes and Rocco should set about proving Celtic wrong on this one and perhaps one day he’ll be back in the Hoops.

UPDATE: Celtic have granted Bologna permission to speak to forward Rocco Vata.

Talks are now ongoing.

The Serie A club are exploring a permanent transfer in this window, as well as a pre-contract agreement. https://t.co/GmkWyVWqeS pic.twitter.com/IHhKaAi7ZX

— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) January 10, 2024