Haissem Hassan has wasted no time in showing Celtic supporters that he knows exactly what he has signed up for.
Celtic confirmed Hassan as their third arrival of the summer, with the winger joining from Real Oviedo on a four-year deal which includes the option of another 12 months.
The Hoops have paid £6 million up front, with another £3 million potentially due in add-ons. A sizeable part of that additional fee will be triggered if Martin O’Neill’s side reach the Champions League league phase.
Hassan certainly wants to be part of those European nights.
Negotiations took considerable time, but the 24-year-old is finally in green and white and ready to offer the pace and direct running Celtic have been looking to add out wide.
Speaking to Celtic Player after completing his move, Hassan said:
“I’m really grateful to be here and really happy.
“Celtic is a massive club. When I was growing up, the club was always in the Champions League and had big players. I’m really looking forward to getting on the pitch with the guys.”
It is the sort of thing supporters hear from most new arrivals, and plenty will understandably pay little attention to the standard first interview.
There is still something encouraging about Hassan immediately pointing towards Celtic’s Champions League pedigree, though. He knows the expectations and the stage he wants to play on.
After years in Spain, he also feels this is the right point in his career to make the move to Glasgow.
“At 24, I think it’s a good moment for me to move away from Spain. I’ve been there for six years,” he said.
“With Celtic’s history, all the great players, the fans and the atmosphere, I think this is the perfect moment for me.
“I know I’m joining a big club, the biggest club in Scotland, and I’m really looking forward to taking the next step.”
The words will only carry so much weight. What Hassan produces once he gets onto the pitch is what matters.
If he can reproduce some of the brilliance he showed across his two World Cup appearances, it should not take the Celtic support long to warm to him.
His arrival also comes as Celtic’s transfer activity finally appears to be gathering some momentum.
Chelsea’s Landon Emenalo was in Scotland on Wednesday for talks over a possible move, while German Under-21 midfielder Mika Baur is expected to fly over to finalise his switch after lengthy negotiations with Paderborn finally produced a breakthrough.
Hassan will be registered for Celtic’s Champions League play-off against LASK, with the first leg taking place in Glasgow on August 19.
UEFA regulations allow clubs to add two players to their squad on the eve of the first leg. That gives Celtic some breathing room with Baur, Emenalo and any other targets they are working on.
Though with Emenalo already spotted at Lennoxtown, he could potentially be registered by today.
After a summer in which supporters have been waiting for the squad to be properly strengthened, there are finally signs of movement.
Hassan is through the door; Celtic now need to keep going.
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