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Moussa Dembele
Topic Started: 28 Jun 2016, 11:59 AM (860,505 Views)
stibhan
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Viva la Quinta Brigada
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Just saw that his birthday is the 12th of July - hope the DVD is named accordingly
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diablo14
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nails
19 Feb 2017, 10:00 PM
nakasboots
19 Feb 2017, 09:47 PM
Well, I'm just waiting on Barca to complete my Moussa bingo.
That's Madrid interested now as well. :twitch:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/real-madrid-join-europe-wide-9851237
Mirrors alot or shampooe
And so is the Sun, daily express and daily mail

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MILLIGANS ISLAND
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....give us a glimmer......
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What a decent young man moussa seems to be.
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remy mcswain
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First part of a two part interview with his agent in the DR today. Decent read. Seek it out if you are interested.
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georgiesleftpeg
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That's a decent article, and I can just imagine a few folk spewing on their porridge this morning :lol:
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gary(not og)
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remy mcswain
21 Feb 2017, 08:51 AM
First part of a two part interview with his agent in the DR today. Decent read. Seek it out if you are interested.
Hopefully he means it, will be interesting what offers come in the summer. :thumbsup:
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fatboab
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remy mcswain
21 Feb 2017, 08:51 AM
First part of a two part interview with his agent in the DR today. Decent read. Seek it out if you are interested.
could you cut and paste it please Remy? :ph43r:
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remy mcswain
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fatboab
21 Feb 2017, 10:26 AM
remy mcswain
21 Feb 2017, 08:51 AM
First part of a two part interview with his agent in the DR today. Decent read. Seek it out if you are interested.
could you cut and paste it please Remy? :ph43r:
I read it on one lying about on the train but here it is.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/the-makings-of-moussa-dembele-9855568

In seven short months since signing, Moussa Dembele has become a Celtic icon worth in excess of £30 million and being chased by Europe’s superclubs such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Chelsea.
The French youngster’s outstanding talents have flourished under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers, but his pathway to Parkhead was opened by agent and close-friend Mamadi Fofana.

Managing director of Mansa Sports Management, Fofana and Dembele are the closest of companions. A team.


Mamadi Fofana, who represents players in France, Italy and England, including Celtic striker Moussa Dembélé WARNING COLLECT PICTURE Provided by
Now Record Sport has met with the brains behind the brilliance to tell the story of the move, the maturity and his contentment at Parkhead and outline the future plans for the potential superstar.
In part one of a two-day insight, Fofana emphasises the part played by Rodgers, a less-known Celtic employee and the feelings of responsibility and honour from player and agent in making the move happen.
Mamadi Fofana isn’t just Moussa Dembele’s agent. He’s like his brother.

As the Celtic striker continues to charge towards scoring records and in a remarkable first season in Glasgow, there are few men prouder.


Mamadi Fofana
Dembele has 27 goals. About the same number of top European clubs who are eyeing transfer moves which would cost them in excess of £30million to obtain the services of the attacker.
France are preparing to call him into their senior squad and Scottish football has never previously housed a talent of such transfer value.
Read More
Celtic star Moussa Dembele interesting Real Madrid as Euro-wide battle develops for striking sensation
It has happened for various reasons. Firstly, the player’s undoubted talent. Secondly, the ability of Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers to nurture and develop it.
But thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, it has come down to the mature choices made by Dembele and Fofana.


Celtic's Moussa Dembele celebrates his goal against Rangers
After the kid to left Paris as a 16-year-old to chase his footballing dreams at Fulham, he was soon a wanted man.
The bravery and faith in his ability to move from his homeland to a new country had paid dividends and the options last spring as he prepared to move-on from Craven Cottage were mounting up.
In these days of footballing greed and some agents willing to take a quick buck, the easy options were open to Fofana.
But he and Dembele shared a common belief.
A belief in developing as a footballer and not cashing-in a career for a heavier cheque.
Dembele wants to be the best. And his friend wants the same thing.


SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 09: Moussa Dembele of Fulham holds the challenge from Glenn Loovens and Daniel Pudil of Sheffield Wednesday during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round match betwen Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham at Hillsborough Stadium on January 9, 2016 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images) (Photo: Matthew Lewis)
In part-one of a fascinating insight into the way player, agent and Celtic have turned promising potential into one of Europe’s hottest hitmen, Fofana explained the choices taken and responsibilities accepted when mapping out the move to Glasgow which has shaped his mate’s incredible progress in seven short months.
Fofana told Record Sport: “Moussa is not just a close friend. He’s like a little brother to me. That’s our relationship.
“I take care of him like that and he also respects me because Moussa respects his elders, that’s how he’s been educated and it’s a wonderful trait.


Celtic's Moussa Dembele celebrates his goal
“It is important. I’m a person who likes to put the human relationship forward. I don’t talk with someone or advise them just for self-interest.
“I knew him before I started working for him. My partner and cousin Makan has also known him for several years.
Read More
Celtic star Moussa Dembele set to be subject of £30million bid from Bayern Munich
“So when it came to the point when he wasn’t really satisfied with the way things were going in his career at Fulham, him and his brother, who is also very important in Moussa’s life, contacted me and my cousin and wanted to know if we’d be interested in working for him.
“Moussa’s Fulham situation was very complicated. He was only 18. The English Championship is one of the toughest leagues in the world and, when you are a young boy, you can get frustrated if you are not playing.


Moussa Dembele in his Fulham days (Photo: Ker Robertson)
“The club had gone down from the Premier League, the structure was changing and Moussa was in the middle of that just wanting to play because he had left France at the age of 16.
“Not every young player in France gets the opportunity to be scouted by foreign clubs.
“When it happens and you have the chance to go, it’s brave to take the responsibility to do it.
“Moussa took that responsibility for his career early in his life and that’s what has made him the player that he is now.
“When you are 16, you want to hang around with friends. Meeting girls,
being a teenager, but he said no.
“He sacrificed it all to follow his dream.”


Moussa Dembele (Photo: Michael Steele)
With the Fulham days coming to an end, Celtic were on the case.
Fofana, though, had other big fish swimming around his friend. Juventus came calling. Other major names were interested.
The next move was going to be crucial and Fofana explained: “It was simple for us.
“We had priorities for what Moussa wanted to do with his career and his life.
“He ended the season at Fulham as the youngest player in Europe to score 15
league goals and he had the best assists with seven.
“Now he was a free transfer with loads of clubs after him and these were not clubs who had all of a sudden gone for the boy, they’d scouted him since he was 15 and knew what he could achieve.


Brendan Rodgers speaks to Moussa Dembele
“There were big clubs in prestigious clubs. Juventus were interested, but it was important for Moussa that he could show what he could do.”
It was at this stage where the work of an unseen Parkhead employee took hold.
Fofana continued: “It is hard to talk about Moussa being with Celtic now without talking about David Moss.
“David was the first person who spoke with me from Celtic. He scouted him from November 2015 until the last game he played for Fulham.
“He was in constant touch with me asking how Moussa was doing and that interest is really important, but for Moussa to go somewhere, he wanted to speak to the coach to know if he was really wanted.



Click to play

Watch Next
Video: Everton Luiz leaves pitch in tears after r

Guardiola: Moussa Dembele is ‘exceptional’


“There is no point in signing for a club if the sporting director or chairman wants you, but the coach doesn’t know you.
“It happens a lot. Then a player doesn’t know if a manager really wants him, although some of them don’t care as they go for the big contract and the big deal.
“That’s not my way or Moussa’s way and the big turning point came when Brendan Rodgers became manager.
“We knew Celtic were a big club and had followed him, but now they had signed a world-class manager and one who develops players.
“That was so important to Moussa. You can be a very good footballer, but if you do not progress or develop, you become a wasted talent.
“I didn’t want that to happen to Moussa.
“I said to David that if Celtic wanted Moussa, we had to make a meeting with Brendan and it was set.”


Celtic's Moussa Dembele celebrates by lifting the Betfred Cup trophy aloft
At that point, Rodgers took over.
In the extremely unlikely event there are any Celtic fans still out there still to be totally convinced by their manager’s worth, Fofana’s explanations of the meeting with Dembele say everything about his value.
He said: “When it finished, Moussa knew Celtic was a strong option.
“Brendan was clear. He explained that Celtic could not pay what some of the other clubs in Europe could pay.
“He even knew what those other offers were. Brendan knew what was going on.
“But what he promised Moussa was that he’d have fun, he’d get his chances to play and he’d be at a top club with everything put in place for him to become a better player, so long as you are willing to work.


Luis Suarez and Brendan Rodgers (Photo: John Powell/Liverpool FC)
“He said: If you don’t believe me, take my phone, call Luis Suarez and ask him what he thinks about me, call Raheem Sterling. I’ve developed many players and you can be one of those, but it’s up to you.
“You will get money in your life, but right now, you are young enough to work and learn and then the big money will follow.




Click to play


“That was roughly the speech and the fact it was coming from a world-class manager was a turning point for Moussa. He was convinced.
“Although things had to be sorted financially, Brendan wanted Moussa to be his first signing and he was.
“The rest of the story is obvious to everyone.”
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nails
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Brendan :)
Edited by nails, 21 Feb 2017, 10:34 AM.
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gary(not og)
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nails
21 Feb 2017, 10:34 AM
Brendan :)
and David Moss :rocker:
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Luca
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Spoiler: click to toggle
:clap: Brendan and Moussa :clap:
Edited by fatboab, 21 Feb 2017, 11:11 AM.
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Hairytoes
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Reads a bit like a movie script.
Could see there being a mighty ducks Dembele movie :)
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fatboab
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Just before the Dawn

thanks Remy :thumbsup:
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nakasboots
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gary(not og)
21 Feb 2017, 10:42 AM
nails
21 Feb 2017, 10:34 AM
Brendan :)
and David Moss :rocker:
:rocker:

(Who is David Moss?) :rocker:
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Hellas67
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Don't know who he is, but he's definitely no rolling stone!
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Dan1974
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nakasboots
21 Feb 2017, 12:01 PM
gary(not og)
21 Feb 2017, 10:42 AM
nails
21 Feb 2017, 10:34 AM
Brendan :)
and David Moss :rocker:
:rocker:

(Who is David Moss?) :rocker:
According to this asst head of 1st team scouting

http://visionarysportsinvestment.com/news/celtic-fcs-david-moss-talks-sporting-directors-and-saving-40-million/
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DKB
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nakasboots
21 Feb 2017, 12:01 PM
gary(not og)
21 Feb 2017, 10:42 AM
nails
21 Feb 2017, 10:34 AM
Brendan :)
and David Moss :rocker:
:rocker:

(Who is David Moss?) :rocker:
Assistant Head of 1st Team Scouting or he was in 2015

http://visionarysportsinvestment.com/news/celtic-fcs-david-moss-talks-sporting-directors-and-saving-40-million/
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Pussyfoot
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Has to be one of the better articles from the Record these past few decades.
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Zurawski 7
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Zurawski 7
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Quote:
 
Moussa Dembele agent has revealed that the super starlet has his mind set on seeing out his four year contract with Celtic - even if some of the world’s biggest clubs come calling.

The brilliant French striker is one of the hottest properties in world football with superclubs such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Chelsea hunting a signature worth in excess of £30 million.

Dembele is a wanted man and bids will hit Parkhead in the summer, but the player’s agent and close-friend Mamadi Fofana has made it crystal clear there is no hankering for a move.

The 20-year-old is perfectly settled in Glasgow and thrilled to be working under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers.

Fofana is clear that a move at the end of the season has never been mentioned and that Dembele is completely at ease with Celtic life.

He explained: “Moussa doesn’t stress. He signed a four-year deal at Celtic and, in his head, he’ll be at Celtic for those four years.

“If he has to leave, that will happen at the right time, but it’s not in Moussa’s head or my head.

“In January, there was speculation, but there will always be speculation if he does well.

“It’s good. It means we are all doing well. The boy is doing well, Celtic is doing well and we as agents are doing the right things for everyone.

“But it’s so important to focus on the right things. Moussa remains cool.

He’s not affected.

“I am not even thinking of the future. I don’t wake up in the morning thinking where Moussa will go in the summer.

“The future does not exist. The past has gone. It’s about being a better player right now.

“The plan with Brendan and the club and Moussa is private, but I can say it will remain the same and it stays the same.

”We are there for the boy to become a better player, for the club to achieve more things and the club wants to keep their best players.

“If Celtic ever wants to sell Moussa, it will be a common decision which is taken between everyone.

“But, at the moment, I can be no clearer in saying there is absolutely no discussion between me and Celtic about Moussa leaving in the summer or even next January.

“We can’t stop people from thinking or talking, but if people can’t see the benefit of Moussa Dembele being at Celtic, there is nothing I can do about that.


Quote:
 
Moussa Dembele. Hat-trick hero against Rangers.

As far as his friend and agent Mamadi Fofana is concerned, it was the day that changed the striker’s life and career forever.

Fofana was aware that not everyone could understand why he would choose Celtic for his ace client.

When the attacker was leaving Fulham last summer, there were offers from more glamorous settings than Scotland’s top flight.

Fofana stood by his principles. He and Dembele believed in Celtic, they believed in Brendan Rodgers and they believed that going to Glasgow was the correct decision.

On September 10 of last year, suddenly everyone else began to share their belief.

At the same time, those doubters realised that pigeon-holing the striker’s talents merely for playing in Scotland was a massive mistake.

Dembele scored a treble against the Ibrox team, the first in an Old Firm league game since 1966, and the sound of the net rippling on each occasion was heard in all corners of the globe.

Fofana said: “That for me was the biggest moment so far for Moussa. The moment that turned people’s thinking outside of Scotland.

“In the weeks afterwards, when I visited places, people would say to me, ‘ah, your boy scored the three goals in the derby. The hat-trick hero’.

“It was something special. Moussa knew it. He knew he had done something which would be remembered.

“I know that Celtic fans have a special memory for Henrik Larsson . He was an incredible player, yet Moussa had done something which the King of Kings couldn’t manage to do.

“I’ve heard the fans refer to Larsson as the King of Kings, so I know that’s his nickname.

“Moussa scored three goals in the big derby game. It’s amazing and people can realise the achievement of that.

“They say it’s only Scotland but if that was the case, every player would come to Scotland and score three goals a game.

“Moussa’s efforts were noted by the biggest of clubs.”

Of course, as everyone knows now, that was just the start.

From domestic football, Dembele eased into the bigger playground of the Champions League.

Two goals against Manchester City in a fantastic 3-3 draw at Parkhead just two-and-a-half weeks after the Rangers super show further strengthened the striker’s standing on the continent.

Fofana didn’t need justification. Neither did Dembele. Nevertheless, it’s nice when it comes along, anyway.

He said: “If the goals in Scotland still doesn’t change a person’s mind, then look at the Champions League. Moussa scored against Astana. Then he scored against Hapoel Be’er Sheva when we were struggling at that point in the game.

“He didn’t score but helped change the second leg in Israel. Then it was two goals against City, then it was an away goal against Borussia Monchengladbach.

“At this point, surely anyone must think, ‘the boy has talent’.

“Brendan Rodgers is correct. You don’t sign a player because of where he is playing, you sign him because of his talent.

“Deals are also made sometimes because of potential.

“Look at Paul Pogba. He cost more than Zinedine Zidane but that doesn’t mean he is better than Zidane.

“It means his value and his potential are worth that.

“You can’t tell me you would transfer other players in other countries for their potential but because Moussa plays in Scotland, he is not admired and you would not do so? No.

“Brendan Rodgers said it quite straight forward. If you think you can fool us because it’s Celtic or it is Scottish football then you are wrong.

“Moussa will only ever leave the club if the price is right for the club and reflects the talents of the player. And that is if he leaves any time soon.

“The story for Moussa could not be better than it is now and I would also encourage any players approached by Celtic to consider the option seriously of joining one of the biggest clubs in the world, with great fans and being managed by one of the best managers in the world.

“Celtic is huge and you only realise it when you go there.

“When you visit the stadium, you feel something special.

“When Moussa scored his second goal against City, I could feel electricity in the crowd.

“I’ve been to many places, massive games, but that night and that stadium is special.

“There are so many things players won’t know about Celtic until they step into the club and feel it, as Moussa has done.”

The accolades are flowing and a call-up to the senior squad of France will be next on the agenda.

The prospect of international aspirations was one situation which Fofana did not have to consider before taking Dembele to sign for Celtic.

He said: “Didier Deschamps is very straightforward.

“He is not influenced by matters or opinion. He is strong-willed, he knows which players have talent and we knew that from the start.”

Celtic, of course, have played their part in all of this.

Fofana knows that without the support of the club, the skilled management of Rodgers, the talents of Dembele’s team-mates and the whole-hearted backing the player has received from fans and staff at Parkhead, the story could not be developing in such satisfying fashion.

Which brings him back to his initial gut feeling when he met Rodgers for the first time and all of this started.

Fofana said: “It has worked out so far the way I had imagined and wanted.

“I’d rather Moussa was playing in Scotland for the first team at a big club such as Celtic than being at an equally big club in a more prestigious league and playing for the Under-23 team.

“What is the point of that instead of Champions League with Celtic?

“As a player and as an agent, you have to use your brain.

“Everybody loves the boy right now, you have 60,000 people singing his name.

“I received a letter from a fan in Japan. One from China. America and Australia. It’s incredible. You only leave a club like Celtic for somewhere with the same dimensions to progress.”
Edited by Zurawski 7, 22 Feb 2017, 08:03 AM.
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