New Celtic signing Biram Kayal says he is ready to fulfil the role his new manager Neil Lennon held during his playing days at the club. The Israeli midfielder completed a move from Maccabi Haifa on Thursday, signing a four-year contract to play in the Scottish top flight.
Kayal, who has a reputation for being a tough-tackling, no-nonsense player, says he knew all about his new manager as a player and his uncompromising style. Now the 22-year-old, who also said the knowledge that Lennon personally targeted him to add more bite in the middle of the park swayed his decision, says he is ready to dig deep to help his new team to success.
Speaking through a translator, Kayal said: “I talked with the coach and I am very impressed. I heard a lot about him before I came here. I know him as a player and I know that he played in my position.
“I found out after the discussions that he was the guy who targeted me. He saw me on a lot of occasions and I am happy he chose me.
“I am happy to play for him. He told me he wants everybody to understand there is a new leader, a new boss on the pitch because in this position, you are the boss. This is what he knows, this is what he played all his life.
“I am a player of hard work and I have come here to work hard and work for the rest of my team-mates. In football, nobody is number one and nobody is better or special. Football is all the group, all the team spirit, all the dressing room. This is what people have taught me all my career and it is what I am here to do.”
Celtic's interest in Kayal, who ended a career-long spell in Israel to move, first came to light a week ago, with the club's chief executive, Peter Lawwell, flying out to meet his prospective signing shortly after the Hoops' return from their pre-season tour of North America.
After negotiations between Maccabi Haifa and Celtic, Kayal flew in to Scotland on Tuesday with his agent Dudu Dahan, putting pen to paper less than 48 hours later.
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The transfer moved fast by all accounts but Kayal says as soon as became aware a move to Scotland was a genuine possibility, he found it difficult to contain his excitement. Now he has completed his transfer, he says almost all the waiting is over for him, except for one last pressing matter.
“It's a very big thing for me and a dream come true,” he said. “All of the last week during the discussions, I couldn't sleep at night.
“I just waited to be here just now, to meet the manager, to speak to you [the press]. Now I wait for just one more thing: I want to see the fans happy.”
Kayal is expected to be part of Celtic's squad for this weekend's Emirates Cup in London, where Lennon's team will come up against Olympique Lyonnais and Arsenal with two games in two days.
The Israeli is ineligible to take part in the second leg of the Champions League third qualifying round tie with Braga next Wednesday. But he would be free to face their next European opponents, whether it is in the current competition or in the Europa League.
