Celtic boss Ronny Deila realistic about Ghana star winger Mubarak Wakaso

Published on: 20 August 2014
Celtic boss Ronny Deila realistic about Ghana star winger Mubarak Wakaso
Mubarak Wakaso has agreed a season-long loan from Ruban Kazan

Celtic manager Ronny Deila does not expect Ruban Kazan winger Mubarak Wakaso to be signed in time to play against Maribor in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Ghana international has agreed a season-long loan from the Russian club.

Wakaso had a medical in Moscow in an attempt to beat last night’s 11pm registration deadline, but work permit issues were holding things up.

Celtic were last night frantically trying to cut through red tape to enable the 24-year-old to take part in the Champions League play-off.

However, Deila said: “It is going on but it doesn’t seem like there is going to be anything today. It is hard to get the paperwork together.

“I am not 100 per cent sure but I think it is going to be hard to have him ready for the game against Maribor.”

Longer-term, Deila is convinced the former Villarreal and Espanyol player can ditch his bad-boy image and show the hunger to be a success at Celtic.

Wakaso’s career has been dogged by controversy and ill-discipline as well as moments of great quality.

But Deila says he understands the African mindset and can bring out the best in a talent with a troubled past.

He added: “I know African players. They adapt when they live in Europe – he is not coming straight from Africa. He played for a spell in Russia.

“African players sometimes come from tough backgrounds. There’s not so much education. You have to adapt to that when you are leading people from those places. But they have the hunger.

“It is important they keep that hunger. I have had good experiences with African players.”

Injured Hoops trio James Forrest, Aleksandr Tonev and Adam Matthews did not travel with the squad to Slovenia.

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