WE all enjoy a good joke and the festive season is one time of the year when the universe should unite to make certain it is a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
But some people’s sense of humour can look somewhat misplaced at the best of times.
We can only assume someone is having a right good old belly laugh in an observation made of Celtic concerning Josip Juranovic.
Apparently, David Moyes, the London club’s manager and former Hoops defender, is in the queue of admirers linked with the dependable right-back.
MEDAL MEN…Celtic’s Josip Juranovic and Croatia team-mate Borna Sosa proudly display their World Cup third-place honours after the 2-1 win over Morocco.
It appears the world has wakened up to the talents of the cultured 27-year-old Croatian back-four operator following his performances in the soccer showpiece in Qatar.
Impressed onlookers can now see in Juranovic exactly what Ange Postecoglou spotted in August last year when he signed him as part of his stunning – and ultimately successful – revamp of the Parkhead squad.
The Greek-Australian gaffer didn’t hesitate in paying £2.5million to Legia Warsaw for the player who had only been with the Polish club for a year.
They had parted with £350,00 to buy Juranovic from Zagreb outfit Hajduk Split in the summer of 2020.
They made a healthy profit on the defender and, according to reports, have inserted the almost-mandatory sell-on clause in his contract, apparently around the 10 per cent mark.
Juranovic signed a five-year deal with Celtic and has created no waves, despite the attention he has attracted after playing in six of Croatia’s World Cup games in the Middle East.
WORLD’S BEST…Argentina maestro Lionel Messi and Croatia defender Josip Juranovic tussle for possession in their semi-final clash.
Injury, of course, robbed him of the opportunity of bringing down the curtain on a fine individual display on football’s biggest platform when he had to sit out his nation’s win over Morocco on Saturday to claim third place in the global extravaganza.
So, it makes sense his value has soared since proving he can mix in the highest echelons the sport has to offer.
Journalist Ignazio Genuardi, of Foot365, has now claimed on Twitter “Celtic seems particularly greedy” with an asking price of £17.5million mentioned in connection with the player’s transfer value.
The price tag possibly dropped out of the Doha sky and is probably news to the Hoops powerbrokers who take care of these sort of things.
Let’s back up a little here. The chap at this media outlet reckons Celtic are being “particularly greedy” in asking for £17.5million for their player?
LAUGHING MATTER…Josip Juranovic is all smiles as he congratulates Moritz Jenz on his goal in the 5-0 romp against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in August.
This is the same Juranovic who had Brazilian superstar Vinicius Junior in his back pocket when the countries locked horns in Qatar to the extent the Real Madrid winger was withdrawn after only 64 minutes.
A fee of £17.5million for a player performing in a position where he could continue for at least another decade.
Maybe it’s worth noting that Danny McGrain played for the Parkhead club for 20 years before quitting at the age of 37.
Any manager who gets a player of Juranovic’s quality and calibre can put him in the first team and sleep easy for the next 10 years safe in the knowledge there will be no problems in the No.2 slot.
Greedy Celtic? Wanting £17.5million for such an accomplished defender?
You’re having a laugh, Ignazio,
Chris Sutton, who knows a thing or two about the beautiful game, rates Juranovic in the £25million bracket, as CQN reported at the weekend.
And he’s not joking.
*DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Livingston this evening – only in your champion CQN.
