Maik Nawrocki has posted an earnest Farewell message to Legia Warsaw fans following his transfer to Celtic and debut against Athletic Club Bilbao.
It doesn’t quite have the artistic impact and tugging on the heart-strings of Jota’s message from Al Ittihad.
Nawrocki’s message through his 15,000 Instagram followers is clearly the work of a Polish defender brought up in the north of Germany rather than the creation of a Latino that thrives on the interactions with his gallery.
It was less than a week from the first reports of Celtic’s interest in Nawrocki to the deal being completed with around £4.3m going to Legia who have to pay off Werder Bremen while also getting a cut of any Celtic profit on the defender.
It is very much how the transfer market works in 2023 with clubs insuring themselves against perhaps selling on the light side.
Virgil van Dijk’s two year stay at Southampton was a red flag to all clubs with Celtic getting a chunk of the fee from Liverpool that might have been close to 50% of the original fee.
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Hello Legionnaires, unfortunately the time has come to say goodbye. I wanted to say thank you that I could be in a club like Legii for two years. Two years with many ups and downs. Two very tough seasons, each in its own way. I’ve had a lot of moments that I will never forget.
Going out for the first time on Łazienkowska in front of fans like you are, score the first Goals for Legia, advance to the Europa League, win your first trophies of my career. Plus, a lot of moments with my team after the field, a lot of memories with the fans after the matches. Despite that, there were also very difficult moments, especially in the first season. I’m thankful for both experiences because without it I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Thanks again to all the players, coaches, people from the staff and Legia employees, that I could develop with you for two years. Thanks to every fan who was with us and supported me and our team.
I was always proud to wear (L) on my chest. Now I feel ready and excited to take the next step. I wish Legia only the best and I think we have everything this season so that Legia gets back in its place!
Thank you that I could be a small part of this wonderful history of Legia! Warsaw loves winners – and I love Warsaw!
With speculation that Carl Starfelt might be attracting offers this month Nawrocki might be featuring more prominently that first anticipated.
Against Bilbao on Tuesday night the Polish defender started alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers with Starfelt and Liam Scales getting the second half together.
Neither Nawrocki or Carter-Vickers are quite at full match fitness but that will only be obtained through playing matches with partnerships and understanding needed in central defence.
Although every manager preaches the need to take it one game at a time next Sunday’s visit to Aberdeen will be somewhere in the thoughts of Brendan Rodgers.
Barry Robson has revitalised the Dons from the side that lost to Darvel in January to the third best in the country with group stage European football assured next season.
In December, following the winter break, Ange Postecoglou faced the most cautious, timid Aberdeen side ever at Pittodrie- under Robson Aberdeen are likely to be the polar opposite of last season’s hosts.
Celtic do have a reasonable inside track on Robson and his side through Scales who spent an eventful season on loan at Pittodrie, sitting out the matches against his parent club.
