FC Astana boss Grigory Babayan has admitted the club may have to be realistic over Ivan Basic’s future amid reported Celtic interest in the midfielder.
Basic has emerged as a player to watch after being linked with Celtic, with the Bosnia international’s profile fitting the kind of midfield market the club have looked at in recent windows. At 24, he is at an age where his next move could shape the direction of his career.
For Astana, the situation is clear enough. They would rather keep him. Any manager would. Basic is a key player for them and losing him would leave a proper gap in the middle of the park.
But Babayan’s comments suggest the Kazakh side understand where this could be heading if the player continues to impress on a bigger stage.
Basic’s involvement at the World Cup has given him a platform that club football in Kazakhstan simply cannot match. Scouts watch these tournaments closely, not just for raw talent but for players who look comfortable when the pace rises and the pressure changes.
Babayan has now accepted that Basic’s performances could open the door to a stronger league.
He said: (TCW), “We have to be realistic and accept that Ivan’s participation at the World Cup is an important moment in his career and could open the way for him to move to a stronger European league.
“We understand this guy has a great career ahead of him.
“He can prove himself at this level and move on to a top league. We have no right to stand in his way.
“Of course we would rather keep him in the team because he is extremely important to us, but I believe it is right to support the player in his development.”
From a Celtic point of view, those comments are worth noting.
This is not a manager shutting the door or trying to scare clubs off. Babayan is doing what plenty of managers do when a player starts attracting attention. He is protecting the club’s position while also making it clear they will not block the player if the right move comes along.
That does not mean a deal is close. Celtic being linked with a player and Celtic actually making a move are two very different things.
But the language from Astana is interesting. “We have no right to stand in his way” is not the sort of line you hear when a club is planning to dig in completely.
For Celtic, midfield could become an area to watch depending on movement in the squad. Any interest in Basic would likely be viewed through that lens. He is left-footed, can operate through the middle, and has the kind of international exposure that often pushes a player onto wider scouting lists.
The key question would be how he fits Celtic’s level. Performing well in one environment is one thing. Coming into a club where most domestic games are played against packed defences, where possession is expected and patience is tested, is another.
That is the jump Celtic must judge properly.
Still, Babayan’s comments make one thing clear: if Basic does attract firm interest from a stronger European league, Astana appear ready to have that conversation.
And if Celtic’s reported interest is genuine, the door does not sound closed.
