Arne Engels has vowed to show no mercy to his former mentor Philippe Clement as he looks to repay the hefty £11 million transfer fee Celtic shelled out for him on deadline day.
The Belgian midfielder, who joined from Augsburg, made an immediate impact by featuring off the bench in the Old Firm clash just days after his arrival, helping Celtic to a commanding 3-0 win over rivals Rangers.
The 21-year-old was reunited with Clement, his former boss at Club Brugge, but he made it clear that any sentimentality has been left in the past.
Engels, now focused solely on his future in Glasgow, is determined to make his mark at Parkhead and prove his worth to the Celtic faithful.
Reflecting on his encounter with Clement, Engels said: “It was nice to see him. Did he say, ‘Good luck, but not too much good luck?!’ Yes, exactly like that! But it’s always a bit joking.
“He said it was a good step for me. We spoke a bit about our last years together. Of course he helped me also in my development as a youth player at Brugge. So he was good for me then.
“But now I am a Celtic player and I will always do everything I can to beat everybody. So, yes, obviously, that is my aim. It’s normal in football you see each other.”
Engels’ swift introduction to the intense atmosphere of the Glasgow derby has only served to fuel his motivation. Despite the weight of the record fee attached to his name, the midfielder remains unfazed, viewing the price tag as a source of motivation rather than pressure.
When asked if the transfer fee brought any added stress, Engels responded confidently:
“Motivation, pure motivation. I’m a relaxed guy and I just want to enjoy football, and that’s what I’ve been doing really well, otherwise they would not pay that sort of fee. I think I’m on the right path and making the right steps, and this is the right one for me.”
He added: “It’s nice to see this and to experience it, and I also believe in myself because I think that’s even more important than other people believing in me.
“But yeah, it’s a really nice feeling that you see they did everything to get you. They paid obviously a big amount for me and I want to return a lot for the club.”
Celtic’s significant investment in Engels has not gone unnoticed, as the young Belgian is regarded as one of Europe’s most promising talents. He had attracted interest from several top clubs across the continent but revealed that Celtic was always his preferred destination.
“Of course, sometimes you hear some things, but Celtic was the main option for me actually. To come here was clear in my head, so it was an easy choice,” Engels explained.
“I think it’s a really big club, it’s the biggest club in Scotland. They play every time for the championship and for the cups and everything, so I think it’s obvious that it’s a step forward for me.”
Engels is also relishing the prospect of competing in the revamped Champions League format, which he believes will be a special experience for the team and fans alike.
“I just want to be in my best form and perform like I always do. That’s why they did it. It’s up to me now to adapt to the situation and to the team. It’s an amazing team. Everyone is speaking to me really well and is teaching me a lot, so I think it’s going to be really easy to integrate and to perform,” he said.
As Engels settles into life at Celtic, he’s already setting his sights on helping the club maintain their domestic dominance and make a mark in Europe.