Owen Hargreaves Gushes Over Engels Celtic Opportunity

Owen Hargreaves believes Celtic could be sitting on a goldmine with Arne Engels, potentially tipping the young Belgian to become Scottish football’s first £40 million player.

The 20-year-old playmaker arrived at Parkhead this summer in a record £11 million move from Augsburg, following the departure of Matt O’Riley to Brighton for £30 million. Engels wasn’t the only big signing, with Celtic also splashing the cash on Adam Idah earlier in the transfer window. And according to Hargreaves, the former Manchester United and Bayern Munich midfielder, the Hoops are showing real savvy in their transfer dealings.

Hargreaves, speaking to SunSport, reckons Brendan Rodgers has the Midas touch when it comes to developing talent. He pointed to O’Riley’s rise last season as proof of the Celtic gaffer’s ability to elevate players to the next level. And if Rodgers can work the same magic on Engels, the Belgian could fetch an even bigger fee in the future. Asked if Engels could become Scottish football’s first £40 million player, Hargreaves didn’t hesitate.

“Yeah, but it should be because of inflation and the price of everything going up. You see it everywhere. So why should it not happen in football?” he said. “Brendan knows his stuff. He’s not going to miss with Engels when they’ve invested that level of money in him. Celtic have done a good job on transfers.”

Hargreaves was full of praise for the way the Scottish champions have navigated the transfer market, pointing to their success in finding gems in the Japanese market. But, he insists, it’s more than just recruitment – playing for a club like Celtic offers young players a platform unlike any other.

“Learning to play at a club like Celtic is really amazing because the History of the Football club is exceptional. One of the best,” Hargreaves continued. “Then you get the expectation from the crowd. You get to comPete in big Games. You get an experienced manager like Brendan Rodgers. You couldn’t dream of anything more as a young kid. You have all that going in your favour.”

For Hargreaves, it’s not just about playing in a Celtic jersey – it’s about handling the weight of expectation that comes with it. Celtic Park, with its passionate supporters and storied History, is no easy stage. But if you can thrive under that kind of pressure, the sky’s the limit.

“If you can manage on that stage and flourish, with all those expectations and demands, then the natural progression is you will get a big move,” Hargreaves said, pointing to the example of Virgil van Dijk, who left Celtic for Southampton before becoming a world-class centre-back at Liverpool. “It happened with Van Dijk. You’ll go play somewhere else because then Celtic will look to cash in and they’ll reinvest, and the scouting has to be good.”

Rodgers has proven he knows how to spot and nurture talent, and for Hargreaves, it’s all about giving young players a chance to shine in high-pressure environments. He compares Celtic’s approach to that of Brighton, who have become renowned for unearthing hidden gems from lesser-known leagues and developing them into stars.

“Brighton have done such an amazing job of that,” Hargreaves said. “They fish in pools that other people just don’t find interesting enough to go and try for themselves. A good player doesn’t have to come from one of the bigger nations like Brazil or Spain or England. They are everywhere.”

Hargreaves is convinced the secret to success in today’s Game lies in smart recruitment and not being afraid to take a punt on young, unproven talent. “Sometimes you’ve got to take a punt on a player, but I think that talent pool is undiminished around the world. There are so many amazing young kids out there to be discovered. You’ve just got to get them before everybody else knows who they are. That’s where you make your money.”

Celtics fans will be hoping that Engels will be the next big thing to emerge from their ranks. With Rodgers at the helm and the club’s track record for development, the Hoops could be about to cash in big again – and Hargreaves, for one, wouldn’t be surprised.

If we were to place an outside bet, not that we’re pushing any Celtic player out the door, Bernardo could make waves in the next few seasons. Celtic managed to sign the captain of the Portugal under-21s for a small fee, and his potential to become better and another signing that takes off is very much in play.