VAKOUN Issouf Bayo described his move to Celtic as a “dream come true” and the new striker insisted he is ready to score the goals which will lead his new club to further glory.
The 22-year-old signed a four-and-a-half-year deal at Parkhead after completing his £2million move from Slovakian side Dunajska Streda.
Bayo, as he would prefer to be known, attracted interest from Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic, Italian outfit Parma, Dynamo Kiev of Ukraine, Turkish giants Galatasaray and Rapid Vienna of Austria, who made a concrete offer for the Ivory Coast internationalist.
Celtic’s only permanent singing of this transfer window was relaxed about the challenges which lay ahead and, speaking through a translator, insisted that there was only one club he wanted to join despite having many choices. Bayo said: “Celtic is a big club so coming here is like a dream come true for me. The only club who were really serious I felt was Celtic.
“The only thing I can say if that I will train hard as I haven’t played for a while. After that the coach can look and decide for me if I’m ready. Of course, I’m here to win trophies. They are a big club and I expect to win medals here.
“I was actually quite star-struck by the St Mirren game [on Wednesday night]. I was more than pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere and I’d like to thank the fans for the welcome I received on the night.
“It’s very exciting for me as I enjoy celebrating with the fans when I score. If you can do that with a stadium like this then it will be special.”
Celtic coach and fellow Ivorian Kolo Toure had a big sway on Bayo, who scored 18 goals in 23 Slovakian Continued, Page 4 Super League games this season, moving to Scotland – but it is another player who he looked up to as a youngster.
Bayo said: “My idol was Didier Drogba. He is my hero, the one I always looked up to. I can’t say that I copy his style or that I’d want to copy him.
“Every player has his own individual style, you play to your strengths, but there are qualities I saw in Drogba which I think I have as well. I would try to emulate him in that way.
“Kolo played a role because he spoke to me when the offer was made. Kolo talked about the club and the set-up and everything he had to say was very positive; it was a factor in me deciding to come here.
“I know Kolo very well because he also works for the Ivory Coast national team as a part time coach and I’ve been on the fringes for a while.
“It’s not like he called me out of the blue - he’s a bit like a big brother to me. So, it was very pleasing he called but it’s not like I was starstruck and thinking ‘Oh, Kolo Toure is calling me’.
“When I play football the way I look at it is that I’m trying to be a role model for young Ivorians and for them to feel they can do the same rather than me wanting me to like Kolo or Yaya Toure.
“My ambition is more to help the younger generation in the Ivory Coast. My aim on the pitch is to score goals and help the team.”
It has been a busy time for the Celtic new man and one he won’t forget.
He explained: “I got married on December 29 and then I signed here on January 8. It all happened very quickly and it’s been a good period in my life. What am I happiest about? Both.”
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