Martin O'Neill wanted him to be Arne Engels' replacement at Celtic, and Gvidas Gineitis admits that would have provided him with a "wonderful" experience.
The Torino midfielder was targeted by the Scottish champions in the summer as their midfield took on a revamp as the Belgian moved to West Ham United, and Reo Hatate left for Burnley.
Gineitis fitted the profile as the man to replace Engels and Celtic were trying to get a deal done before the end of the window. His agent later claimed O'Neill was desperate to get a deal done but others at Celtic didn't share his enthusiasm.
The 22-year-old has now admitted he would have loved the chance to move to Parkhead and testing himself at such a big club.
Gineitis told Lithuanian outlet 15 Min: “I’m happy at Torino, I’m focused on my team.
“But whether you like it or not, you keep thinking about it in the transfer market. You know something could happen, there could be some movement.
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“Playing for Celtic would be an interesting, wonderful experience. Also because testing yourself at a club like that would be truly stimulating.
“But for now, as I said, I’m at Torino and I’m thinking about Torino.
“Then, if they wanted to sell me and another club wanted to buy me, I’d have to evaluate the potential offer and see how much they’d offer me.”
The Celtic manager explained why a move for the midfielder failed to materialise.
"We had more than an interest in him at the time," O'Neill said of Gineitis. "But it’s all very well having an interest and people feeling that they might want to come, you still have to negotiate with the club. That was a major thing at the end of the day.
"When clubs become adamant about a certain price for a player – and we are not in the market for overpriced players like in England – you have to deal with it as best as you can.
"If you feel there is a price for a player, sure you can negotiate, but if there is not really any phenomenal negotiations, then you need to do other things.
"We had an interest in another young lad who I think will be a brilliant player. I loved him and I thought we could do it, but the club sent him elsewhere."
