Celtic manager Martin O’Neill expressed optimism about new signing Camilo Duran following the striker’s early impact in a pre-season friendly against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday in Faro. The 24-year-old Colombian, who recently joined from Qarabag, scored within five minutes of entering the match as a substitute, showcasing his pressing ability by dispossessing a defender before scoring from close range.

Although Celtic ultimately lost the match 4-1 to the Portuguese side, who reached the Champions League quarter-finals last season, O’Neill highlighted the positive aspects of Duran’s performance. “I’m delighted with him,” O’Neill said, noting that the striker did not receive much service due to several in-game changes but still managed to make a significant contribution. The Celtic manager drew parallels between Duran and former forward Daizen Maeda, praising Duran’s willingness to press opponents. “We talked about Maeda being able to close players down. He might be the second Maeda in that aspect,” O’Neill commented.

The goal, which leveled the score at 1-1 in the 69th minute, came as part of a broader opportunity for Celtic’s younger and less experienced players to gain valuable minutes against strong opposition. Following the match, O’Neill emphasized the developmental nature of the fixture. “It’s a great experience for some of the young boys to be playing against a side like that, but secondly we all can learn from it. That’s all part of pre-season,” he said.

Duran remains Celtic’s only confirmed signing so far this summer, with expectations that his pressing style and work rate will contribute both on and off the ball as the club prepares for the upcoming season. The manager’s comments suggest that the club sees the forward as a potential key asset in maintaining high intensity during matches, reflecting a tactical approach that values defensive effort from all attacking players.