He’s the scintillating striker that Celtic fans can’t stop talking about. There’s a good chance if you know anyone who supports the Glasgow side, you’ve seen one of his 16 goals this season fly in past an opposition ‘keeper.
Indeed, 20-year-old Moussa Dembele signed for Celtic from Championship outfit Fulham during the summer transfer window and has enjoyed a phenomenal start to his Parkhead career.
The highly-rated ex-Cottager appears to be only getting better with each performance and it’s sending your favourite transfer rumour outlets into overdrive, speculating about how long the Bhoys can hold on to him.
We’ll admit he isn’t quite the finished product just yet, but Dembele’s already showing signs that he could go on and play for one of Europe’s elite clubs if he does decide to leave the Scottish champions.
Here are FIVE times the Frenchman has given us all a glimpse into that exciting future…
Birth of a hero
At first glance, a penalty against the champions of Kazakhstan may appear to be an odd place to start in proving someone’s world-class potential but this was the moment I knew Dembele would become a massive Celtic player.
In truth, this is potentially the biggest goal of Dembele’s career so far. UEFA Champions League football is everything to Celtic; financially, for prestige and for fan interest. This tie against Astana was poised at 2-2 on aggregate and deadlocked on away goals when the young Frenchman skipped into the box and was felled in the final moments of the game.
Not only did he win the penalty, but at just 20 years old and having never scored for the club before he had the confidence to step up, take it and smash home to send Celtic through to the Playoff round with the last kick of the ball.
They say becoming an elite footballer is as much about mentality as it is talent and if that night was any indicator, this kid is tough as nails.
Demolition man
Even if Moussa Dembele never scores another goal in his career, he will always be a legend to the green and white half of Glasgow due to just this one, single game.
With his head, his right foot and his left foot, Dembele scored the perfect hat-trick against Celtic’s biggest rivals – not to mention the first hat-trick in the fixture for over 50 years.
50 years. Think about that – think about how many times this massive Glasgow derby has taken place.
Think about the players who HAVEN’T scored a hat-trick in the fixture; Kenny Dalglish, Ally McCoist, Charlie Nicholas, Brian Laudrup, Paul Gascoigne, Henrik Larsson.
Then think about what Dembele might be capable of in the future. Scary isn’t it?
Citizens’ bane
This was the moment that Moussa Dembele arrived on club football’s biggest stage and said, “yes I am that good.”
It was the kind of performance in Europe that Celtic fans haven’t seen since the likes Henrik Larsson destroyed teams across the continent. If there’s any firm indicator that Dembele can produce the goods for Europe’s biggest clubs then this is surely it.
He didn’t just do it against City either. He also scored against Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany, making it three UEFA Champions League Group Stage goals in four games.
What could he do in a team that can create more chances at that level?
Flicking brilliant https://www.youtube.com/embed/w597KWGyfSk?start=238
As if Rangers fans didn’t hate Moussa Dembele enough after the league derby demolition at Celtic Park, he also broke their hearts at Hampden in the League Cup semi-final.
Heading into the dying moments of the game, extra-time looked a certainty and with it a moral victory for the Ibrox side after such a heavy defeat in the fixture prior.
Step forward Dembele, who not only met Griffiths’ perfect low cross but had the audacity to flick it into the net with his heel, through two sets of open legs.
Yes, a double nutmeg back-heel in the last minute of a national semi-final that also happens to be a massive derby. It doesn’t really get better…
International superstar?
Not only is Dembele tearing it up on the club football scene, he’s also making waves representing his country. He’s in red hot form for France’s talented U-21 side this season, scoring four goals in four appearances.
Two of those came just this week when a powerful blast and a beautifully precise free-kick destroyed England’s U-21s on French soil.
It demonstrates that on his current trajectory, the sky is the limit for Moussa.
Celtic fans must savour every moment they get with him – who knows how long he’ll be in Scotland?
