MusaJosh Rae has revealed that his “heart” was drawn to Celtic, despite trials with Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Everton.
The goalkeeper, who now plays for Raith Rovers in the Scottish Premiership, joined the club’s Parkhead academy from Hamilton Academical in March 2014, aged just 13.
However, he could well move abroad or south instead, with Rae recently revealing how he sat down with Thibaut Courtois and the legendary Diego Simeone at Atleti.
He told the [Scottish Sun]: “I went to Madrid for 16 days, came home and had to go back.
“Hamilton were good to me. They made me go out and train with these teams because it was good for them too.
“It was an experience and I look back now and I think it was amazing.
“Courtois came on while I was having lunch. He sat and had lunch with me and praised me!
“I just sat there and stared at him and thought, ‘Is that really him?’.
“He didn’t have to come in and talk to me because I’m just a 12-year-old boy going to training.
“But he sat for 15, 20 minutes and talked to me and it was incredible.
“Ten minutes after him, Diego Simeone came in and talked to me too.
“My dad was there. We were both sitting there with our mouths open, wondering if this was really happening.
“I also went to Liverpool and Everton. They were great opportunities and experiences, but when this Celtic came along, it was kind of over. I guess my heart was with Celtic.
“It may not have been right, but you can’t undo the past.
“Everything happens for a reason and I feel I’ve done pretty well considering what I’ve been through and where I’ve been.”
Rae spent just three years at Celtic before moving to Leeds United. Since then he has played for a host of clubs both north and south of the border, and is currently at Kirkcaldy with Raith.
Musa
