NEIL LENNON reckoned he had pulled off a signing coup when he brought Venezualan striker Miku to Celtic on loan on the last day of the transfer window on August 31 2012.
The 27-year-old frontman was surprisingly allowed to leave Spanish outfit Getafe where he had been their top scorer in La Liga the previous season.
Miku – real name Nicolás Ladislao Fedor Flores – had left his first club Valencia in January 2010 and hit the ground running with his new team, but they deemed him surplus to requirements when he switched to the Hoops who had the option to make the move permanent.
HAPPY DAYS…Miku gets a good view of Victor Wanyama’s headed goal in the 2-1 Champions League win over Barcelona at Parkhead on November 7 2012. Keeper Victor Valdes is helpless with Mikael Lustig and Efe Ambrose about to join the celebrations.
Things, though, just didn’t work for the skilful forward at Parkhead with just two goals in 11 league appearances.
The highlight of his time was undoubtedly participating in the unforgettable 2-1 Champions League triumph over Barcelona at a rocking Parkhead on the evening of November 7.
Victor Wanyama and Tony Watt were the marksman on that extraordinary occasion, but Miku’s all-round play and his ability hold up the ball were instrumental in the success.
However, he couldn’t replicate that sort of form on a consistent basis and the Caracas-born raider failed to score the goals that would have lured Lennon into a bid to keep him at the champions.
After Celtic, Miku moved to Qatari club Al-Gharafa for an undisclosed fee in September 2013. He scored five goals in 15 games in his debut campaign.
SMILES BETTER…Miku celebrates one of his two league goals for Celtic after netting against Dundee United in a 2-2 draw at Tannadice on November 4 2012.
He returned to Spain with Rayo Vallecano in February 2015. At the completion of his contract, the frontman moved to Indian Super League outfit Bengaluru in August 2017.
Miku then joined Cypriot club Omonia Nicosia – ironically, later managed by Lennon – in August 2019 before returning to Spain with Deportivo La Coruña, who had just been relegated to the third tier.
He then switched to Real Murcia and, on February 3 2023, he joined CF Intercity, who also play in Spain’s third tier. At the age of 38, he moved to lower league side CD Arenteiro in August last year and is under contract until July 2024. The capacity of their stadium is 4,500.
* TOMORROW: Don’t miss the adventures of another former Celt in CQN’s EXCLUSIVE series.
