Former Celt reveals the role of ‘President’ in Palma transfer tale

Emilio Izaguirre has revealed that he was called by the President of Celtic for his views on Luis Palma.

It seems that the Honduran winger is now in the final stages of a move from ARIS Thessalonika to Celtic with just some paperwork to be completed.

Celtic’s recruitment processes have been under examination in recent weeks after Brendan Rodgers revealed that his role is simply to work with the players supplied to him by the club.

The returning manager has highlighted and praised the work being carried out by Mark Lawwell who was appointed as Head of First Team Scouting and Recruitment in July of last year.

Completing an awkward circle Peter Lawwell was CEO during Izaguirre’s time at Celtic with the President featuring heavily in the former defender’s reference for Palma.

Discussing Palma, Izaguirre told the Glasgow Times:

I am proud that the president of Celtic trusted me – he talked to me along with Brendan Rodgers.

It’s great that another Honduran will be playing in the Champions League. It’s nice I have been able to open doors. I think Luis has everything.

He’s a dynamic player and a great dribbler. He can beat a man and put the ball in the box. He is also a player who will improve and enhance his skills.

I have already spoken to him. I have been advising him and I have made available the connections of the people who can help him in everything in Scotland. He already knows what he has to do and what not to do.

Celtic set the bar high. Brendan Rodgers previously won the treble and Celtic fans are always looking for that.

I feel proud that I was able to advise Celtic. I have always kept close to the president and scouts there who were colleagues of mine.

It is difficult to image anyone other than Lawwell Senior as the President that Izaguirre refers to, when Lawwell became non-executive Chairman in December there was no suggestion that he would have a hands on role with Michael Nicholson well established as CEO.

On Monday there were mixed reports from Greece over whether Palma was travelling to the UK to complete his deal, all of the details between the clubs and the player seem to be agreed with the deal simply to be rubber stamped.