Haissem Hassan: This is the perfect moment for me to join Celtic

Haissem Hassan: This is the perfect moment for me to join Celtic

Haissem Hassan is delighted to have joined Celtic, with the 24-year-old Egyptian internationalist signing for the Scottish Champions on a four-year deal, with the option of a further year.

He joins from Spanish side, Real Oviedo, and also on the back of an impressive World Cup campaign with Egypt where he helped his country reach the last 16 of the tournament.

Now, having signed for Martin O’Neill’s side, he’s looking forward to life as a Celt.

And speaking exclusively to CelticPlayer at Lennoxtown in his first interview as a Celtic player, Haissem 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.”

A direct and skilful winger who is comfortable operating on either flank, Hassan will add pace, creativity and strong one-on-one ability to the Celtic attack.

Explaining what supporters can expect to see from him, he said: “For me, football is all about enjoyment, and my first job is to bring enjoyment to the fans who come to the stadium.

“From a football perspective, I would say I’m a skilful winger who likes one-versus-one situations and combining with my team-mates.

“I’m still only 24 and I have a lot to improve on, but I hope I can show the best of myself.”

The Egyptian internationalist spent the past six years playing in Spain, but he was already familiar with Celtic and the size of the club before the opportunity to move to Glasgow arose.

“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.' Hassan believes his experiences in French and Spanish football have helped him become a more complete player, while moving abroad at a young age also allowed him to develop away from the pitch.

He said: “I experienced two different styles of football, which made me a more complete player. On a personal level, it was quite a challenge leaving France at 18, discovering a new country and learning a new language.

“That’s what I want to do here as well - learn English, experience a new culture and discover a new style of football. I’m really excited about it.”

Hassan represented France at youth level before making his senior international debut for Egypt and arrives at Celtic with experience on the biggest stage, having featured for his country at this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

The winger particularly impressed during Egypt’s last 16 meeting with defending world champions Argentina, although his side were ultimately eliminated following a dramatic 3-2 defeat.

“It was a massive honour and I was very proud to represent Egypt at the World Cup,” Hassan said.

“It’s a huge country where we absolutely love football, and we could feel all that love during the tournament. It’s every player’s dream to represent their country at a competition like that.”

With domestic and European football on the horizon, the winger is determined to make an impact and contribute to further success for the club.

“At Celtic, everything is about winning, and that’s what I want,” he added.

“We need to prove that we are still the best team in Scotland, qualify for the Champions League and have a good run in Europe.”

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