Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers opens up on deal for ‘talented youngster' after tip-off by Chelsea legend

Scottish Sun

21 hours ago

BRENDAN RODGERS has revealed Chelsea great Michael Essien told him to sign Benjamin Nygren.
The Celtic boss snapped up the Sweden star from Nordsjaelland in a bargain £2million deal.
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Benjamin Nygren in action for Sweden
Credit: Alamy
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Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers
Credit: PA
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Former Chelsea star Michael Essien now at Nordsjaelland
Credit: AFP
Essien is No2 at the Danish club and gave his old Stamford Bridge pal a glowing reference on Nygren.
Rodgers said: 'Benjamin is a guy who has really grown and developed.
'He was a really talented youngster and made a move that didn't quite work out, but has done well at Nordsjaelland.
'I was in contact with a friend of mine there who was a top midfielder - Michael Essien.
'He works at the club and spoke really highly of Benjamin.'
Celtic also completed a deal for Fulham kid Callum Osmand this week and Rodgers has high hopes for the 19-year-old.
He said: 'He wants to be part of a first-team set up where he can grow and develop.
'This is what our environment is built for. He's an exciting young talent and was coveted by a number of teams.'
Celtic had earlier brought Kieran Tierney and Ross Doohan back to the club and believes having that Scottish core is crucial.
He said: 'The players who have come through the system here are so important.
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'They understand the values of Celtic and, for me, they should always be at the heart of the club.
'That's why it was important to bring back guys like Kieran and Ross, because they play such a huge part in keeping the culture that's created here.
'For Kieran, I'm absolutely delighted. We're getting a top player back.
'Sometimes top players like that might come later on in their career, but we're getting Kieran at 27 years of age.
'I was with him during the summer so I know first-hand how excited he is to be here.
'And it's great for Ross to be back. He was here during my first spell and he left to go and gain experience.
'He's an international goalkeeper now. He answered the call and got his cap, which is absolutely brilliant.
'I know where his heart is and I know that in bringing him back here, he'll make a real good contribution in that goalkeeper department for us.'
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Celtic start their pre-season games against Queen's Park on Friday and Rodgers is already thinking of the August Champions League play-off.
He told Celtic TV: 'In the early stages, it's really about the physical preparation and getting the players prepared mentally.
'We saw the benefits of a really good pre-season last year.
'Pre-season is always a tense and difficult period when you're one of the big clubs because there are no pre-season friendlies.
"I always call them tests. When you're a big club they're never friendlies.
'Then you add in to that the qualification for the Champions League.
'That means that you're trying to get to the end point that little bit quicker, because it's something that's very important to us.
'So we'll take that last qualification round when it comes and hopefully we'll be in a really good place by that time.'
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