CELTIC’S £3.5million misfit Luis Palma admits he still “loves Celtic” as he settles into his season-long loan at Lech Poznan.
The 25-year-old Honduran international arrived at the champions from Greek outfit Aris Thessaloniki in the summer of 2023, but, despite an encouraging debut campaign, he made only eight league games last time around.
He switched to Olympiakos in a temporary deal at the end of January, but failed to impress and was returned to Parkhead at the end of the season.
Palma, who is under contract at the Hoops until June 2028, is now kickstarting his career in Poland.
The flamboyant flanker reflected: “My first season at Celtic, that was nice. Everything seemed to go well. I scored 12 goals and had 13 assists. It was a very special season because it was my first year abroad and I enjoyed it a lot.
GLORY GOAL…Luis Palma thumps in a memorable strike in Celtic’s 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid at Parkhead in October 2023.
“My goal against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League came when I felt I was at the peak of my career.
“It was the first goal in the Champions League and it was very, very special.
“Scoring it for a club like Celtic, in front of 60,000 supporters, was a dream come true.”
Palma, speaking to The Celtic Way, continued: “I felt very, very good, and I really enjoyed playing because I was contributing with goals and assists.
“The second season is hard for me to talk about because that’s when things started to go sour.
“Despite the setbacks, I always stayed focused. I trained every day and worked hard to be ready if the manager needed me.
“I made the difficult decision to leave Celtic because I wanted to go out on loan and play regular first-team football.”
THE LAST HURRAH…Luis Palma evades a desperate lunge from Dundee defender Ryan Astley in his final appearance for Celtic in the 3-3 draw at Dens Park on January 14.
Palma added: “I’ve got a great relationship with the gaffer, Brendan Rodgers, and the same applies to John Kennedy.
“They were very, very special people in my career. From the moment I arrived at Celtic, they made everything feel good and positive.
“I still miss my team-mates, the staff, and training with the squad. They’re all good guys, and I wish them every success.
“I was very happy at Celtic and I enjoyed my time at the club immensely. If it hadn’t been for the injuries, who knows what might have happened?
“I love Celtic and I’ll be a supporter for life now. The fans were incredible. I can’t thank them enough for how they treated me.”
Palma has claimed two goals in 10 appearances for the Poles since his much-heralded arrival.
The club are in eighth place in the 18-team top-flight after only six games and are hoping to mount a challenge for the title while their interest in Europe is confined to the Europa Conference League.
