Could’ve value £2.5m, now “on fire” in Qatar: Celtic had a mare on record-breaking gem – opinion
Scottish champions Celtic have endured their justifiable share of switch blunders through the years, with one nightmare story that the Parkhead outfit will probably be hoping to overlook is their failure to land prolific Frenchman, Olivier Giroud.
The veteran marksman is presently proving but once more simply what a expertise he’s on the world stage, with the 36-year-old having proved important in Les Bleus’ thumping 4-1 win over Australia within the holders’ opening sport on the World Cup in Qatar.
The ruthless purpose machine has gone into the event off the again of one thing of a sizzling streak at membership degree for AC Milan, having been “on fire” to date this time period – within the phrases of journalist Jan Aage Fjortoft – scoring 9 targets and offering 5 assists in simply 19 video games in all competitions for the Serie A facet.
That gorgeous begin to the season has ensured that the evergreen expertise now boasts a outstanding haul of 246 targets in 610 video games in his membership profession so far, having loved worthwhile spells in his homeland, in addition to with the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, previous to shifting to Italy.
That profession path may nicely have been considerably completely different, nonetheless, with these again in Glasgow having seemingly come near touchdown the scientific ahead again in January 2010, through the striker’s stint at Ligue 2 outfit, Excursions.
The suggestion heading into that winter window was that the Outdated Agency outfit had been the ‘favourites’ to land the rising menace for a reported price of round £2.5m, albeit with the 6 foot 4 ace finally becoming a member of Montpellier later that yr.
Giroud himself has solely not too long ago admitted that he had been eager on making the transfer to Parkhead on the time, solely to be persuaded to stay in France amid potential doubts over the standard of the Scottish Premiership.
Not with the ability to tempt the Chambery-born ace to maneuver to Scotland stays a notable supply of frustration so far as the Hoops are involved, with that January window finally seeing the membership usher in Robbie Keane on mortgage – who would solely keep for six months regardless of netting 16 targets – and Morten Rasmussen, who performed simply 13 video games, as centre-forward options.
As for Giroud, the remaining, as they are saying, is historical past, with the lethal asset happening to internet 39 targets in simply 85 video games and win the Ligue 1 title throughout his time at Montpellier, earlier than sealing a £12m swap to north London in 2012.
A decade on from a swap that made the striker one thing of a family identify, the £76k-per-week ace nonetheless has that golden contact, having been on fireplace once more in Qatar. Certainly, he netted twice through the win over the Socceroos to get Didier Deschamps’ males off to the right begin within the defence of their worldwide crown.
These two strikes ensured that the sometimes ruthless ace is breaking data as he now sits degree with footballing icon Thierry Henry on the all-time scoring listing for France, with it maybe doubtless that the Milan star will solely add to his tally of 51 targets because the event progresses.
Whereas the 115-cap man’s total affect could have been restricted – making simply 19 touches – he did show an actual point of interest in assault after profitable 75% of his aerial duels and likewise remaining composed in possession after shedding the ball on simply two events, together with his match ranking of 8.4, as per SofaScore, solely bettered by teammates Antoine Griezmann and Adrien Rabiot.
On the proof of that exhibiting, Giroud – who was doubtless solely thrust into the facet as a result of an harm to Karim Benzema – will proceed to flourish on the worldwide stage, with Celtic as soon as once more left to rue their earlier switch failure.