CRISTIAN GAMBOA has revealed his former West Brom team-mates James McClean and Darren Fletcher urged him to join Celtic.
The 27-year-old right-back failed to settle at the Hawthorns after joining from Norwegian side Rosenborg following impressive displays for Costa Rica in the 2014 World Cup Finals in Brazil.
Gamboa was signed by Alan Irvine, but was snubbed by the Scot’s successor Tony Pulis.
He chose to quit the Midlands club in the summer after making just 17 first-team appearances.
Brendan Rodgers paid £1million for him in August and the pacy defender agreed a three-year deal with the champions.
Now Gamboa, who has turned out 15 times for the Hoops, has admitted he was told to make the switch to Glasgow by two of his colleagues.
He said: “James McClean is a big Celtic fan and he told me that if I had the chance, I had to come here.
“That was nice to hear. But all the guys were nice, people like Darren Fletcher, too. They knew my situation at West Brom.”
“So, when I got the opportunity, everybody – especially the Scottish guys – just said: ‘Go!’ because they knew I’d get the chance to play.”
