Callum McGregor believes youth sensation Rocco Vata could have what it takes to become a Celtic star.
The 17-year-old son of ex-Hoops star Rudi Vata had been training with the first team for most of the season so far before suffering an ankle injury last month and he made his senior debut against Hibernian at Easter Road in late December. Just two days after that appearance in Edinburgh, Vata played a starring role as Celtic’s B team defeated Rangers 5-2 in a Scottish Lowland League clash in front of a couple of thousand spectators at Celtic Park, netting a goal in the process.
The youngster then found the net twice against Wolves’ youth team in a Premier League International Cup clash on January 18, before going off injured after 29 minutes. Vata remains on the sidelines with the ankle injury, but McGregor is backing the teenager to recover from it and continue to push his way into Ange Postecoglou’s first team plans.
The Celtic skipper said: “He’s hurt his ankle at the minute but he’s showing really good promise in the academy. He’s scored a few goals for the B team, which is great. That’s what we want, to be pushing as many academy products on as we can, trying to expose them to the first team as much as we can as well and getting them to that level where they can step into the team.
“Rocco has been around the first team since pre-season and he’s done great so hopefully he can recover from his injury. It’s great to see the guys coming, pushing and training with the first team. If we can try and get as many academy products through into the first team, I believe it gives the club a great base moving forward.”
McGregor himself is one of the best players in recent years to come through Celtic’s youth academy and knows how key patience is in trying to establish yourself as a first team player.
Prior to his senior debut, the now 29-year-old spent a season on loan at Notts County from 2013-14 where he played alongside Jack Grealish. Other players to come through the Scottish champions’ youth system include Kieran Tierney, James Forrest and Ireland international Aiden McGeady.
Postecoglou revealed last month that Vata had been set to get more first team experience against Morton in the Scottish Cup before picking up the injury. The youngster is eligible to play for Albania, who his father won 59 caps for, Scotland where he was born and Montenegro via his mother Ann Frances’ side of the family, but he has represented Ireland at U15, 17, 18 and 19s level, who he qualifies for through his grandmother on his mother’s side.
It has been reported that the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Juventus, Roma and AC Milan are all tracking Vata’s progress, with Celtic after losing a number of youth players in recent years, including Liam Morrison (to Bayern Munich), Ben Doak (to Liverpool) and Josh Adam (to Manchester City).
Vata has been largely coached by Celtic B team coaches Stephen McManus and former Ireland defender Darren O’Dea, who previously stated that the teen’s potential “could take him to the top”, adding that the most impressive thing about the Glasgow native is his mentality and attitude to the game.
Callum McGregor was speaking at a JD Sports fans meet & greet in their Castle Place Store in Belfast on 14th February 2023. Shop the full Celtic collection online here or in-store.
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