With a year left to run on his contract Rocco Vata has joined the CAA Base agency- known in Scotland for their ability to place young players at progressive clubs.
A year ago Max Johnston was probably unknown other than on a data sheet entry at Sturm Graz, last month the young defender completed his move to the leading Austrian side with just a Development fee heading to Motherwell.
Vata might be the son of a former Celtic player and represent Ireland at international level but with his choice of agency he is putting his future in the hands of an exceptionally well connected agency.
At the top of that tree is Frank Trimboli, the London based Australian that took Ange Postecoglou from Japan to Spurs via Celtic- a movement that everyone benefited from.
Trimboli won’t be hands on with Vata but his men on the ground in Scotland know the template with a worldwide network to call as they plot the development of their clients.
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Welcoming one of the most exciting young players in Scotland to CAA Base… Rocco Vata
An Irish youth international, Rocco, made his Scottish Premiership debut last season for treble winners, Celtic. pic.twitter.com/7BTGhSkln2
— CAA Base (@CAABase) August 3, 2023
At the age of 18 it isn’t unfair to say that Vata’s career is at a crossroads. After two seasons playing in the Lowland League he has more than outgrown the Lowland League, last season he played in the UEFA Youth League and has been a regular internationalist up to u-19 level.
With Brendan Rodgers trying to trim his 30 man squad reality says that it is highly unlikely that Vata will improve on last season’s three substitute appearances for the first team.
So far Celtic haven’t been able to come up with a loan placing for the teenager, last season he was probably at Championship level, this season a move to Hibs or Aberdeen looks the best fit without delving in too deeply.
Ideally he would have joined a club for pre-season training and be ready for the start of the season tomorrow, familiar with his team-mates and the way his manager operates.
Recruitment isn’t yet over, clubs are still putting together their jigsaw pieces, there could be a loan option about to open up but it is highly unlikely that Celtic will allow anyone out on loan without extending their contract which creates the chicken and egg situation.
Watching Vata play and score for Celtic on Tuesday night against East Kilbride it was easy to see his frustrations.
Running around the plastic pitch at Airdrie which restricts the turning and movement of a winger while avoiding the ‘over enthusiastic’ attacks on your ankles from 5th/6th tier opponents isn’t doing anyone any favours.
Playing through the centre Vata scored Celtic’s equaliser but was substituted midway through the second half with the young hoops losing 3-1 to their street wise opponents and assisted by a very lenient set of match officials.
Celtic have a well documented problem in losing players to England once they turn 16 with Aidan Borland to Aston Villa the latest example.
Vata resisted that option, through the Ireland international set up he is familiar with emerging talents in England and Italy, the FAI have struck a strong seam of talent from Albanian, Polish and African immigrants.
Tomorrow Celtic face Gala Fairydean on the Airdrie plastic, next Saturday they are away to Civil Service Strollers, neither match is going to help Vata, he has already spent two seasons playing against this level of opponent. A fresh challenge is long overdue.
Getting a programme and plan in place to develop players from the Celtic Academy can help counter the lure of following Ben Doak or Aaron Hickey to make a career in the game.
