BRENDAN RODGERS anticipated great things from Olivier Ntcham after Celtic paid £4.5million to Manchester City for the midfielder in June 2017.
It didn’t quite go according to plan for the France-born Cameroon international at Parkhead, despite signing a four-year extension in November 2018.
Ntcham’s contract was scrapped by mutual consent in August 2021 and he joined Swansea City the following month.
The attacking middle-of-the-park performer had spent the second half of the season on loan to Marseille, but failed to impress in his six appearances and was returned to the Scottish champions.

HEAD OVER HEALS…Olivier Ntcham goes through his acrobatic routine after his goal against Motherwell in the 2018 Scottish Cup Final. Scott Brown looks bemused.

EURO STAR…Olivier Ntcham clips in the historic winner against Lazio in Rome in November 2019.
Ntcham, who had been reported to be a £13million target for Porto two years earlier, was linked with AEK Athens and Legia Warsaw before he moved to the Welsh club.
The player’s highlight at the Hoops was his winning goal against Lazio in the Europa League on November 7 2019 which gave Celtic a 2–1 victory in Rome and their historic first-ever win in Italy.
He also scored a memorable goal in the club’s 2-0 Scottish Cup Final success over Motherwell at Hampden on May 19 2018 to seal the double treble.
But it all turned sour with tales of Ntcham’s unrest in Glasgow and there was no surprise when he joined Championship side Swansea on a free transfer in September 2021.
Now 28, the midfield man signed for Turkish Süper Lig side Samsunspor on a three-year contract in August 2023.
* TOMORROW: Don’t miss the adventures of another former Celt in CQN’s EXCLUSIVE series.