Gineitis plays in Torino defeat as rumours of a Celtic deal intensify | OneFootball

Long term Celtic target Gvidas Gineitis played for Torino last night in the Italian sides 1-0 home Coppa Italia defeat to Monza, despite rumours of a move to Celtic being described as imminent in some quarters, notably by Stephen McGowan at The Herald…

Gvidas Gineitis of Torino FC in action during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Torino FC at Stadio Giovanni Zini on April 19, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

The Lithuanian International who the Serie A side rate in the £9 million bracket has been tracked by Celtic for most of the summer, and yesterday it was reported that the Scottish champions had opened discussions with their Torino counterparts in a bid to bring the player to Glasgow before the Scottish transfer window to sign player to play in the Europa League closes this evening.

Gvidas Gineitis of Torino FC in action during the Serie A match between Torino FC and Hellas Verona FC at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on April 11, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Despite rumours of a deal being close to completion after productive discussions between both parties, the Italian side included the 6ft 3in midfielder in their starting line up for the Coppa Italia clash with AC Monza at the Olympic Grande Torino stadium in the last 32 of the national cup.

Torino made five substitutions in the defeat that seen them crash out the cup, but Gineitis remained on the field, which isn’t that surprising as he’s seen as a key player in side, and more importantly he came through the contest unscathed.

Gvidas Gineitis of Torino FC and Valentino Lazaro of Torino FC enter the pitch to warm up ahead of the Serie A match between Torino FC and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on May 08, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

Celtic supporters will have took a keen interest in the Coppa Italia clash between the two Serie A rivals, just to see how the Lithuania equipped himself, and in all truthfulness he was pretty average as his overall rating of 5.0 would suggest.

Many will reckon that after being included in Torino’s starting line up, a celtic move for Gineitis now seems unlikely, but we shouldn’t read too much into it, as you have to remember that Arne Engels was included in the Celtic XI against Kilmarnock last month, just days before his £25 million move to West Ham United.

Gvidas Gineitis of Torino FC is challenged by Luca Lipani of US Sassuolo during the Serie A match between Torino FC and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on May 08, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

Could this be Genitis’ last game for the Italian side?

I guess we will find out in the next 24 hours but Stephen McGowan at The Herald has reported that he understands that the deal will done and that Gvidas Gineitis will most likely be a Celtic player before the day is out.

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