Camilo Durán’s move to Celtic appears to be edging ever closer after the Colombian striker was spotted training with the first-team squad during the club’s pre-season camp in Portugal.
Although Celtic have yet to officially announce the signing, images of the 20-year-old linking up with Martin O’Neill’s squad have quickly spread across social media, fuelling excitement among supporters eager to see fresh attacking reinforcements arrive.
The sight of Durán taking part in training suggests the final stages of the transfer are being completed behind the scenes. Clubs often wait until all paperwork, registration and media commitments are finalised before making a formal announcement, even when a player has already joined up with his new teammates.
For Celtic supporters, this feels like another significant step towards finally welcoming a recognised centre-forward. Since the departures of Kyogo Furuhashi, Adam Idah and Nicolas Kühn over the past 17 months, the club has struggled to establish a settled focal point in attack. Various options have been tried, including Kelechi Iheanacho, but fans have continued to call for a long-term solution.
Durán now looks set to be that player.
Martin O’Neill has repeatedly stressed the need to strengthen his squad before the new season, and the Colombian’s arrival would represent an important piece of that puzzle. While supporters will understandably remain cautious until Celtic release the official confirmation, seeing Durán already working alongside his new teammates is an encouraging sign that the wait is almost over.
Attention will now turn to Celtic’s official channels, with supporters expecting the club to unveil Durán in the coming days. Until then, the photographs from Portugal provide the clearest indication yet that the striker’s move to Parkhead is all but complete.
For a support that has waited far too long for attacking reinforcements, seeing Camilo Durán in Celtic training gear offers something that has been in short supply for months: genuine optimism.
