Sporting CL 4-1 Celtic – “I am in constant touch with Michael,” Martin O’Neill | OneFootball

Celtic lost 4-1 in Portugal last night to Sporting CP, who the Hoops actually beat in the corresponding fixture a year ago…

James Forrest of Celtic FC during the Sporting CP v Celtic FC Pre-Season Friendly match at Estadio Algarve on July 14, 2026 in Faro, Portugal. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues Getty Images)

A weakened Celtic

That said the scoreline in any pre-season friendly matters not a lot and with eight first team players missing due to their World Cup commitments, it’s hard to make any real comparisons or draw too many conclusions.

Yes, Sporting CP had players missing too but they maintained their identity in their first half performance and were head and shoulders above Celtic.

Celtic FC pose for a photo Sporting Lisbon v Celtic, Pre Season Friendly, Football, Estadio Algarve, Portugal – 14 July 2026A lgarve Estadio Algarve Portugal Photo Zed Jameson IMAGO/Shutterstock

One new summer signing in Camilo Duran

The second half with so many youngsters being given minutes was no more than a training exercise with the highlight being our one new summer signing Camilo Duran coming off the bench to make an immediate impact in scoring what was Celtic equaliser ahead of the late flurry of Portuguese goals.

Celtic now return to Scotland to play two friendlies at Celtic Park where there isn’t a great deal of enthusiasm from supporters – judging by online comments – to attend the games against Middlesbrough or AC Milan.

Ghost games as fans vote with their feet

Perhaps a few new signings coming in the door would help boost the attendance levels?

Club signing shipped out

The Celtic squad actually deceased in size last night as Shin Yamada was sent out on a season long loan deal to OH Leuven in Belgium. The club signing clearly hasn’t impressed Martin O’Neill enough to merit retention and perhaps hints that Brendan Rodgers was right all along last summer?

Martin O’Neill spoke to the mainstream media after the match and the Celtic manager was evidently very pleased with his new striker Camilo Duran who reminds him of Daizen Maeda.

Duran the Maeda replacement

Perhaps that was the intention all along, with Daizen clearly wanting to leave this summer after his Celtic exit being frustrated last summer through the failing in the recruitment at the top of the club.

Camilo Duran of Celtic FC celebrates a goal Sporting Lisbon v Celtic, Pre Season Friendly, Football, Estadio Algarve, Portugal – 14 July 2026. Photo Zed Jameson IMAGO/

Shutterstock

“I said, ‘This is Daizen Maeda the second!’,” MON said after the 4-1 defeat. “I do think he’ll be a proper player, not just because he closed down and scored the goal.

“He does like to press, absolutely. He scored and there were a couple of moments that didn’t quite bounce his way. I think he’ll be really decent for us, I genuinely do.”

Fans of Celtic FC. Sporting Lisbon v Celtic, Pre Season Friendly, Football, Estadio Algarve, Portugal – 14 July 2026. Photo Zed Jameson IMAGO/ Shutterstock

Duran looks like a decent signing, £5.5m well spent and Celtic of course will bring in more than double the fee when Daizen decides on his next destination.

Arne Engels of Celtic FC (L) tries to escape Silas Andersen of Sporting CP (R) during the Sporting CP v Celtic FC Pre-Season Friendly match at Estadio Algarve on July 14, 2026 in Faro, Portugal. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues Getty Images)

Other exits openly discussed

The Colombian striker is a start but this Celtic squad needs more quality additions and will have to replace others who are likely to leave including Arne Engels, who started on the bench agains Sporting CP and Reo Hatate who was nowhere to be seen.

Still no deals for Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi

Deals for Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi could be done with just £1.5m spent but even these are problematic. Both players want to sign. Both have proved their worth BIG TIME, the manager wants both but there always seems to be a but, a delay, a problem. And the season kicks-off for real in just a couple of weeks.

Constant touch with Michael

“We’re trying to come to some sort of agreement with Iheanacho but we are definitely making moves,” Martin O’Neill said, as reported by Glasgow Times. “I am in constant touch with Michael [Nicholson]. Shin Yamada has gone on loan and Michael is in the background working away.

“I don’t know about numbers but I am definitely optimistic we will get players in. I think to balance things up we’d have to let a few players go but I’m hoping to be in a position to do that with others coming in. I’m very hopeful [about Iheanacho].”

Julian Araujo only as a possible replacement for Alistair Johnston

Julian Araujo has resurfaced as another possible signing, with news that Bournemouth are set to make a call on his future.

The Mexican international certainly made an impact at Celtic before picking up an injury and with plenty of global attention on Alistair Johnston after his outstanding showing for Canada at the World Cup, Araujo could be a viable option, costing perhaps half of any expected fee for AJ.

Confusing commentary

“I felt he did very well for us. He obviously picked up an injury at an inopportune time for him,” Martin O’Neill commented. We are talking about a fight for (right) back with Ali Johnston and Colby Donovan.

“I don’t know if Bournemouth would loan him out again, I would think they would want to sell him. I would keep it open, because you don’t know what could happen.

“If it was all within our scope, it’s something I would definitely look at, because he would be up for the fight. I haven’t been in contact with him for a few weeks, but overall I don’t know what Bournemouth’s position is.”

Anthony Ralston of Scotland arrives at Charlotte Douglas International Airport ahead of the FIFA World Cup on June 07, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Getty Images)

Martin overlooked Anthony Ralston, who is set to sign a new deal at the club, according to recent reports. Ralston did well at the World Cup for Scotland in the minutes he got under former Scotland boss Steve Clarke.

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