Amido Balde has finally concluded his £1.5million move to Celtic — before training his sights on following in the footsteps of Parkhead strike legends Henrik Larsson and Jorge Cadete.
The 6ft 4in front man had jetted in to Glasgow on Monday but the four-year deal was sealed only yesterday evening after the personal intervention of Vitoria Guimaraes chairman Julio Mendes, who arrived in the city to help Balde finalise his switch from the Portuguese side.
Now Neil Lennon’s first summer signing — who says he models himself on Paris St Germain’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Tottenham’s Emmanuel Adebayor and Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez — can’t wait to start scoring the goals that could win him a place in the hearts of Celtic fans.
Summer spree starts: Balde is Lennon's first signing of the summer‘I’m very happy to get the paperwork completed and finally sign for Celtic,’ said the Guinea-Bissau-born 22-year-old, who was handed the No 17 jersey.
‘These delays can happen at big clubs but now I’m here, I’m going to work hard to win trophies and play in the Champions League.
Interested: Balde was also being followed by Crystal Palace‘I’ve seen some of the famous Celtic strikers of the past, such as Cadeteand Larsson, and I know I have a big responsibility to be like them.
‘Cadete also played for the same club as me, Sporting Lisbon, and he was a very good striker — but I’d like to achieve more than him.
‘So I’m going to work very hard and, one day, I hope to become like these great players.’
Balde, who scored nine goals in 27 appearances for Guimaraes last season as they won the Portuguese Cup, watched in wonder as Celtic’s past campaign saw them reach the last 16 of the Champions League at the expense of Benfica.
When the Scottish champions made their move, there was only one place the former Portugal Under-20 international — who has designs on representing his country in Rio next summer — was going to end up.
He said: ‘I watched a couple of the Celtic games in theChampions League group stages, but when I saw them beat Barcelona I knew this would be a big club to sign for.
‘What I would say to the Celtic fans is that I am a target man, but I can also play football.
‘I had a few favourite players when I was growing up that I modelled myself on. Players like Ibrahimovic,Adebayor and Mario Gomez,but I don’t want to talk toomuch about my qualities.
‘Celtic fans will see on the pitch what kind of player I am.
New investment: Balde arrives at Celtic Park for £1.5million
‘But I certainly won’t have a problem with the physical nature of the Scottish game. I’m sure I can handle it, I am strong enough. I’m looking forward to it.
‘I also think reaching the World Cup with Portugal is a possibility if I do well here. That’s a real target for me, but I know I need to be successful with Celtic first.
‘I was released by Sporting Lisbon when I was a young boy, but it’s up to me to prove at this big club that I can become a big player.’
Campaign: Balde scored nine goals in 27 appearances for Guimaraes last seasonMore... Make me a Bhoy: £1.5m Balde jets in from Portugal with just Celtic on his mind Celtic race for £2m Balde takes twist as Palace come in with 11th-hour bid Rogne ready to move on: Norwegian set to leave Celtic after three years at Parkhead Villa beat off Celtic and Werder Bremen to sign £2.5m winger Tonev from Poznan All the latest Celtic news and headlines
