Luis Palma to Celtic transfer details revealed by beaming dad who sets challenge to new £3.5m star
Celtic are on the brink of snapping up Honduras international winger Palma after he was previously linked with Rangers.
Incoming new Celtic star Luis Palma’s father has revealed his pride at his son’s move and insisted he can’t wait to see him play Champions League football.
Celtic are on the brink of snapping up Honduras international winger Palma in a deal believed to be worth £3.5 million to Greek side Aris. His first club Vida will be due a percentage of the fee too and his father, Don Enrique, admits he’s thrilled at his boy’s long journey from humble beginnings at La Ceiba to the pinnacle of European football. He said: “Luis’s biggest dream in his life has always been to play in the Champions League in Europe and now he will get to do that with Celtic. When he called me to tell me about the transfer to Scotland, I told him how proud I was of him. Although I made it clear that it’s important he keeps his feet on the ground because his path still has a long way to go.
“He has matured a lot in recent years. Now he will play in the Champions League – the world’s greatest tournament. I will be a very proud dad. I believe he will travel to Scotland over the weekend. He’s come a long way from when he kicked a ball here. I remember his grandfather giving him into trouble because his football was destroying his vegetable patch! But all he’s ever wanted since he was very young was to kick a football about. His favourite toy was a plastic football that you could buy for just 5 lempira.
“We used to get calls from his school saying he wasn’t in class and was spotted kicking a ball around instead. When he was getting older, we gave a lot of jobs to strengthen him like chopping firewood. We used to pay him in tacos! He made his debut as a 17-year-old for Vida and scored against Progreso in that first game. Since then, it’s been easy for him.”
Palma is a key member of the Honduran team who have three games coming up next month – a friendly against Guatemala and two CONCACAF Nations League qualifiers against Jamaica and Grenada. But his dad confirmed he won’t be making himself available for the first game…which is just as well for Celtic as it’s on the same day as next week’s Old Firm showdown.
Enrique said: “He won’t play next week and has already discussed it with the manager Reinaldo Rueda. But he will be available for the two Nations League games. He loves playing for his country.”
