Celtic to get Como Cup surprise as local Italian group prepare hero's welcome for Brendan Rodgers and Co
A group of diehard Celtic fans based in Italy are planning to show the world just how much they love the Hoops when Brendan Rodgers and Co roll into Lombardy for the Como Cup later this month.
The Parkhead giants will compete in a four-team tournament alongside Ajax, Al-Ahli of the Saudi Pro League and hosts Como in the first edition of the new Football on The Lake Festival.
Celtic face Eredivisie side Ajax in a semi-final clash on July 24, with the winners going onto take on the victors of the other last four tie three days later – a tie that could see Nicolas Kuhn face off with the Hoops if his £17.2m move goes through as expected.
The losers of the two games will also contest a third-place play-off on July 26.
The tournament in the scenic town will give Hoops fans the chance to sample what the scenic Italian city of Como has to offer, with the Serie A side's Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium just a few steps away from the famous Lake Como.
And those making the journey from further afield are set to be welcomed by Parkhead fanatics from the Lecco Celtic supporter's club.
A group of 25 supporters will make the short trip to Como from nearby Lecco to help generate an atmosphere ahead of the tournament. The Lecco fan group founded in 2019 are one of five officially recognised Celtic supporters clubs' in Italy.
The fan group are based in Lecco's Shamrock Irish Pub and are said to have organised five nights of music from Irish artists Richie Prendergast and Eimehar Rebel to give fans making the trip an authentic experience.
Briefs for the matches are not particularly cheap, with supporters in the Celtic designated areas of the stadium having to fork out €35 (£30) to see their team up close.
And while other Celtic supporters' clubs in the country are believed to have turned their noses down at the prices for the tournament, Lecco fan group president Paolo Gulisano insists his party could not pass up the opportunity to show their love for their team.
Speaking to LeccoToday, he said: "As soon as we learned of Celtic's participation in the Como Cup, we took action to organize ourselves and to not miss our contribution to the team.
"Seeing Celtic on our lake will be a unique opportunity and we certainly could not be discouraged by an objectively high price for a summer friendly."
Ahead of their trip to Italy, Celtic are over in Ireland next Tuesday (July 8) to take on Cork City. Rodgers' side will then venture to Lisbon to face Sporting eight days later before welcoming Newcastle to Celtic Park on Saturday, July 19.
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