​Colombia international Camilo Duran has been snapped up by O’Neill as he begins the task of rebuilding a squad that has been run into the ground in a variety of ways and across multiple positions. The magnitude of this summer’s overhaul at Celtic is such that it could surpass the scale of Ange Postecoglou’s own restructuring in 2021, when he first arrived following the Covid-19 season that will long be remembered for its disruption. That period was far from easy and demanded careful, strategic scouting and sound business judgment to secure the right deals and bring them over the line. The manager needed players who fitted a particular profile to implement the style of play and system he would regularly use at Celtic Park, and O’Neill will require the same level of precision if he is to find success again.
Duran, Celtic’s new summer signing, arrived at the club’s training camp in Portugal. The decision to recruit him aligns with what Martin is seeking in terms of a forward who can hold the ball up for the central striker—a capability he cited as a key reason for being drawn to the player when the opportunity presented itself. The Hoops boss has explained that Duran was on Celtic’s radar as far back as April of this year, with the club choosing to bide their time and then pounce when the moment was right.
In discussing the scouting and recruitment process that brought the South American attacker to Parkhead, he said: “We’ve got the scouting process. We’ve looked at him for a couple of months. We thought about him as far back as April. If you’re not going to be the manager, you want to know that the next manager will be keen on certain players.” He added, “So he was one of those. We’ve got it over the line now. The scouting reports are more extensive than ever before. People’s opinions and judgments of players—that kind of information—has expanded. Some of that has to align, I must admit, before you act. But there’s so much data available now that you can identify weaknesses and strengths alike. It is what it is. I think he’ll do fine.”