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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Ewan Paton

Forgotten Celtic man on not feeling the 'love' during Parkhead stint

Nadir Ciftci admits he didn't feel the love during his time at Celtic Park.

The striker was signed by Ronny Deila in 2015 following two superb campaigns at Dundee United.

He scored 33 goals for the Tannadice club which led to the Parkhead move. 

However, he failed to come anywhere close to replicating that form in Glasgow's east end.

Another difference between his spells at United and Celtic, by Ciftci's own admission, was his bond with the supporters of the respective clubs.

During his time at the Hoops, he went out on loan four times. And Ciftci admits he felt lost at Parkhead before eventually leaving permanently for Genclerbirligi in 2018.

He told the Dode Fox Podcast, he said: "Obviously for me, I got offers at the time from different teams abroad as well. But I always said if I leave, I would love to go to Celtic, no matter which team would come.

"But I was always thinking of staying in Scotland and playing for Celtic, if it was in my hands and I was going to get a move. For me, the most important thing is something to give back.

"They didn't pay anything for me, so I got a great fee back to United for me to leave like that. I think that got me back into a great situation for me and I had a feeling that I had to give United something back.

"Since then, the start of Celtic wasn't the greatest because of my six [banned] games, which was frustrating. I didn't really get the same things that I did at United from the staff, basically. Not in a bad way, I mean every manager and every person is different from themselves.

"I think I was kind of lost in myself because all of the support I got from Jackie and the staff, I kind of got a bit lost. So I didn't feel much confidence or much love, let me say it that way.

"So I was thinking in my head that I had to get away on loan or whatever, whereas I think I shouldn't have. In the meantime, until today, a lot of things have happened in my life since I left United, ups and downs."

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