Vakoun Issouf Bayo

Yes very much so I think it could work

 

Now that’s a catcher

 

Seen in paper BR said he would take time to get match fit, hope we aren't waiting too long to see thus guy. Should be fit enough surely for the bench in a week or so.

 

@vakoun45
: “When I first heard of the offer from #CelticFC I was surprised and very happy. I told myself it was a really good opportunity and I had to take it.”

@vakoun45
: “I would like to keep scoring goals and win trophies.”

@vakoun45
on
@KoloToure
: “I spoke to Kolo on the phone. He told me the club were interested in me and to have a think about it. That’s what I did and I decided to come over.”

@vakoun45
: “Initially I couldn’t believe what was happening. It all happened very quickly. This is thanks to my work and I don’t intend to stop, I want to keep scoring goals.”


@vakoun45
: “I’ve just arrived in Glasgow. I haven’t played for a month so I’m going to train hard and when the coach decides I’m ready then I’ll play



@vakoun45
: “Playing in the #UEL would be fantastic. At the moment, I need to work on my fitness as I haven’t played in a while. It’s all about hard work and then the coach will decide when I’m ready.”



@vakoun45
on the fans: “Yesterday was really moving for me. The fans played a big role in my decision to move here. In Slovakia, I’m well known for celebrating with the fans when I score. I’m really looking forward to this here and to celebrate with the fans

 

Seen a few comments about how he needs to beef up a bit. He looks like a strong lad to me. Built around the shooders!!

 

THE spotlight was literally on Vakoun Issouf Bayo at Celtic Park on Wednesday night when he took his Paradise bow in the centre-circle at half-time in the game against St Mirren.

The 22-year-old Ivory Coast internationalist has signed for the Hoops on a four-year deal from Slovakian side, Dunajska Streda, and he admitted that it was an emotional moment as he held aloft the Celtic scarf to the acclaim of the home support.

Speaking at Celtic Park today (Thursday), Bayo also explained that, after a month without playing, he will be working hard on getting his fitness up to speed to push himself into Brendan Rodgers’ squad.

“I found the experience of being out on the pitch very moving,” the new Celtic striker said, “and it made me really happy because it’s very important to me. And the Celtic fans played a big role in me deciding to sign for the club.

“In Slovakia, I’m well-known for really enjoying celebrating with the fans when I score, and knowing what I know of the Celtic fans, I’m really looking forward to this happening here and having these sort of celebrations with the fans.

“When I first heard the offer from Celtic, I was surprised, but obviously very happy. I told myself that it was a really good opportunity so I was going to take it, so here I am at Celtic. I’d like to keep up my scoring record, keep scoring goals, make the club and the supporters happy, and win trophies.

“I’ve just arrived here and I haven’t played for about a month, so I’m going to train, and train hard, and when the manager decides that I’m ready, then I’ll play.”

Bayo’s determination to make a good impression at his new club and be ready to play whenever Brendan Rodgers calls upon him also led the player to pay a fine in Slovakia in order to lift the domestic suspension he was serving there.

“Celtic’s a big club, so it’s a big move for me,” he said. “I was suspended in Slovakia and I decided to pay the fine to make sure that, once I was here, when the manager decides it’s time for me to play, there’s nothing which is going to get in the way of playing.

“Playing in Europe would be fantastic and it’s something that I’ve been thinking about for a long time but, as I said, at the moment I really need to work on my fitness because I haven’t played for a while.

“So it’s all about hard work and getting match-ready in terms of fitness, and then the manager will decide when to play me

 

Has he sorted his visa/permit/whatever was holding him up?

 

Press conference

 

VAKOUN ISSOUF BAYO has revealed Didier Drogba as his inspiration as he looks to make his mark at Parkhead.

Retired striker Drogba won 105 caps for Ivory Coast during a glittering club career, particularly at Chelsea where he won the Champions League as well as several other major honours.

Brendan Rodgers' latest recruit, who wants to be known only as Bayo, signed from Dunajska Streda on a four-year deal for a reported fee of £2million.

And he was introduced on Wednesday night at half-time of Celtic's 4-0 Ladbrokes Premiership win over St Mirren.

Speaking at Celtic Park through an interpreter, the 22-year-old Ivory Coast international acknowledged the influence of his country's football superstar.

He said: "Didier Drogba is a bit like a big brother to me but we haven't spoken to each other.

"I do hope I can have a career as good as he had but we will see what happens.

"When Didier was much younger, this is when you can compare us, he had speed which is one of my qualities and he was also very good with his head which is also one of my qualities,

"So yes, in a way I am inspired and playing in the same style as a young Didier Drogba."

Bayo has been delighted with the welcome he has had from the Hoops fans since he arrived in Glasgow.

He said: "I have found it very moving and it made me really happy.

"The fans played a big role in me deciding to sign for Celtic.

"In Slovakia, I am quite well known for enjoying celebrating with the fans when I score and knowing what I know of the Celtic fans, I am really looking forward to having the celebration with them."

Bayo scored 18 goals in 23 games for the Slovak Super League outfit before he made his move and is looking to continue that form in Scotland.

He said: "When I first heard of the offer from Celtic I was really surprised and then obviously very happy.

"I thought this was a good opportunity so I am going to take it, so here I am.

"I would like to keep my scoring record, keep scoring goals, make the club and the supporters happy and win trophies."

However, Bayo has not played for over a month and will now concentrate on getting up to speed with the Europa League last-32 clash with Spanish side Valencia next month a goal.

He added: "It would be fantastic to play in the Europa League. It is something I have been thinking about for a long time.

"But at the moment I need to work on my fitness because I haven't played for a while so it is all about hard work and being match ready and then the coach will decide if I play."













VAKOUN ISSOUF BAYO has revealed he found his perfect match TWICE in the space of ten days.

The new Celtic striker wed sweetheart Gisele Kouakou in an Abidjan ceremony on December 29.

Then the Ivory Coast hitman completed his dream £2million move to Parkhead in early January.

It’s been a whirlwind few weeks in the life of the 22-year-old former Dunajska Streda forward.

Asked what made him happier, Bayo smiled: “I would say both because they happened within a few days of each other.

“I got married back home on December 29 and I signed here on January 8.

“It all happened very quickly and it’s been a good period in my life.

“At first I couldn’t believe what was happening. Celtic is a really big club, so coming here is like a dream come true.

“This is thanks to my work and I don’t intend to stop. I want to keep scoring goals.

“I’m here to win trophies. Celtic is a famous club and I expect to win medals here.”

Bayo’s prolific form in Slovakia led to a call-up for the full Ivory Coast national team.

But what he didn’t know is that “big brother” figure, Celtic coach Kolo Toure, was watching him closer than he realised.

He said: “I know Kolo very well because he also works for the Ivory Coast national team as a part-time coach.

“I’ve been on the fringes for a while and Kolo spoke to me when the Celtic offer was made.

“It’s not like he called me out of the blue. He’s a bit like a big brother to me, so it was very pleasing that he called, but it’s not like I was starstruck and thinking, ‘Oh, Kolo Toure is calling me’.

“He talked about the club and the set-up and everything he had to say was very positive, so Kolo was a big factor in me deciding to come here.”

Bayo is full of respect for the Toure brothers Kolo and Yaya, but his big childhood hero was Didier Drogba.

He’d love to emulate the Chelsea legend’s achievements, but is more focused on writing his own story.

He said: “My idol was Drogba. He’s my hero, the one I always looked up to.

“I can’t say I copy his style or that I’d want to copy him. Every player has his own individual style. You play to your strengths.

“But there are qualities I saw in Drogba which I think I have as well. I would try to emulate him in that way.

“When I play football the way I look at it, I’m trying to be a role model for young Ivorians.

“I want them to feel they can do the same, rather than me wanting to be like Kolo or Yaya Toure.

“My ambition is to help the younger generation in the Ivory Coast. My aim on the pitch is to score goals and help the team.”

Bayo has taken an unusual route to get to Celtic, playing in Tunisia and Slovakia after leaving his homeland.

His first spell away from home didn’t turn out well, but he always had the hunger to make it work.

Bayo said: “I left the Ivory Coast when I was 18 to go and play in Tunisia for two and a half seasons.

“But it didn’t work out well. I wasn’t playing much and I wasn’t happy, so in the end I decided to leave.

“I never thought of giving up. My childhood dream was to become a professional football player.

“I am the first in my family to play football.

“I played other sports when I was young, but football was always the one.

“So when I decided to break my contract in Tunisia, it was a case of starting from scratch.

“I had to look for a new club. I had to move to a new country and the hope was I would work hard enough to progress.”

Bayo was being chased by Slavia Prague, Rapid Vienna, Parma, Dynamo Kiev and Galatasaray.

But he was sold on Celtic after talking to Toure and realising how much the club wanted him.

After signing a deal until 2023, he was handed the No10 shirt vacated by Moussa Dembele.

He said: “I don’t feel pressure in terms of being as successful as Dembele.

“I saw a few Celtic games when he played with the No10 shirt, but I don’t feel as if I have to play the same way as him.”

Bayo hasn’t played for six weeks and will be put through a mini pre-season by the Hoops before being eased into action.

But he can’t wait to play at Celtic Park after being introduced to the crowd during the 4-0 win over St Mirren.

He added: “I was quite starstruck. I was surprised by the atmosphere.

“I’d like to thank the fans for the welcome I received.”