Luis Palma: I want to bring joy to the Celtic fans and follow in Emilio’s footsteps
Luis Palma needs no introduction to Celtic, having started watching the team as a 10-year-old back in Honduras. Like most other football fans in his country, the arrival of Emilio Izaguirre at Celtic Park back in 2010 sparked great interest in his new team, and Luis Palma was no different. Now, 13 years later, he’s following in Izaguirre’s footsteps, having joined the Scottish Champions on a five-year deal from Greek side, Aris. It’s a move that the Honduran internationalist is delighted to make, and a conversation with his fellow countryman served to confirm what he already felt about signing for Celtic.
Speaking exclusively to Celtic TV, Luis Palma said: “I’m very happy and I’m very grateful to be here. I’m happy to be here in Scotland and I’m really happy to represent these colours. I spoke to Emilio a couple of days ago. We spoke about the club, and now that I’m here I’d like to do as much or even more that what Emilio did at the club. We had a chat about it and had a good laugh about it because that’s what every player wants to do – to come in and play in front of a lot of fans. So it’s something that I’m looking to try and do and I’m excited about it. I’m looking forward to meeting my team-mates and being able to be on the training pitch with them. I’m a happy person so I’m just hoping to bring that feeling to the club as well.”
Even as he begins training with his new Celtic team-mates, the 23-year-old will also be looking forward to the UEFA Champions League group-stage draw tonight (Thursday), with the Hoops set to face some of Europe’s top teams in football’s top club competition. It won’t be the Honduran attacker’s first experience of European football this season, having already played in the Europa Conference League qualifiers with Aris when he scored two goals including the only goal of the game in a 1-0 home win over Dynamo Kyiv. And he’s hoping to replicate that goalscoring form on the Champions League stage in the months ahead.
“I feel like the 10-year-old boy I was, dreaming about playing in the Champions League and now I’m just looking forward to it,” he said. "I watched it when I was younger and I looked at Emilio and him playing in Europe with the Celtic team, and now I’m excited that I get to do that myself."
And as for the type of player the Celtic fans can look forward to seeing in the green and white Hoops, Palma, who will wear the No.7 jersey, said: “My finishing is quite strong and my free-kicks are good as well. I’m good in one-on-one attacking situations and I’m hoping to try and bring these skills to Celtic. And the reason why I’m here is to try and bring as much happiness and joy to the Celtic fans as I can.”
Celtic TV - First Interview and Full Media Conference with new Bhoy Luis Palma
34. SPL Spieltag
28.04.2024 16 Uhr DZ
Dens Park
Dundee FC - Celtic FC
28.04.2024 16 Uhr DZ
Dens Park
Dundee FC - Celtic FC
