Crosas paraded at Celtic after landmark deal

Celtic unveiled new signing Marc Crosas in front of their supporters today and revealed more Barcelona prospects could follow the midfielder to Parkhead.

The 20-year-old completed his switch from the Nou Camp this weekend as a special relationship between the clubs came to fruition after four years.

The player, who has signed a four-year deal, was paraded to loud cheers from the Celtic support before the team began their Clydesdale Bank Premier League title defence with a 1-0 win over St Mirren.

The Spaniard, who made his first-team debut for Barcelona in 2006, will cost Celtic an initial £415,000, rising to a potential £1.6m depending on appearances.

The deal is the culmination of talks between the clubs which began under former Hoops manager Martin O’Neill.

The complex transfer gives Barcelona the right to buy back Crosas in two years for £1.65million with the Glasgow club retaining a claim to 25% of any future fee commanded by the player.

If the Catalan club do not take up that option, they would receive 25% of any transfer fee Celtic receive from another club.

Crosas, who helped Lyon win the French league and cup double in a loan spell last season, is the first player to move from Barca under the terms.

But Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has revealed that Argentina forward Javier Saviola and Portugal winger Ricardo Quaresma earlier refused the opportunity.

“We would have taken Quaresma and Saviola but the players decided not to come,” he told the Sunday Herald.

“We have always thought that this formula could be successful, so we have looked at Crosas.

“We are not finally there but that deal is now a structure which will hopefully allow us to add players going forward.

“Hopefully it makes a lot of sense. Not only with Barcelona but with other clubs too.

“A young or fringe Barcelona player could come here, play in our first team, play in front of 60,000 and in Europe and develop as a player. Both clubs could benefit from that.”