Luis Palma, the struggling Celtic winger, has been issued a stark warning by former club star and fellow Honduran, Emilio Izaguirre.
The ex-Celtic defender has cautioned that Palma’s opportunity at the Scottish champions may be slipping away, with his recent performances failing to make the necessary impact at Parkhead.
Palma, who transferred from Greek club Aris in a £3.5 million deal during the 2023 summer window, had initially spoken positively of his relationship with Izaguirre.
The two compatriots appeared to have a strong connection, with Izaguirre having championed Palma’s move to the Glasgow club.
Despite this support, it appears things have not unfolded as hoped for the 24-year-old, with Izaguirre now acknowledging the difficulties Palma faces.
Izaguirre has admitted that Palma’s struggles to secure a regular place in the starting eleven suggest that “something is missing.”
The winger has only had limited opportunities to showcase his talents this season. His first start came in a match against Falkirk, but it was far from the breakout performance he would have hoped for.
Palma was substituted after 60 minutes, having failed to make a significant impact. In the aftermath, he found himself under further scrutiny for his social media activity, which did not sit well with sections of the Celtic fanbase.
Speaking to Deportes TVC, Izaguirre expressed his concerns over Palma’s situation, saying:
“It’s very complex because I haven’t experienced it. I was a starter when I arrived. If you’re a 200 per cent professional, you have to be a thousand per cent professional because there are teammates who are more professional than you. You have to learn to eat and sleep well because people are very demanding.”
He continued by acknowledging the implications of Palma’s current lack of game time:
“If he is not a starter, something is missing. They don’t leave anything out. There are cameras even in training. Something must be happening because he is not a starter because they don’t forgive anyone. He must focus because the opportunity could pass him by and hopefully it won’t.”
Izaguirre also touched on the growing speculation that Palma could be loaned out in January if his fortunes at the club do not improve.
“The tough thing is that there is pressure on the player, and the news comes out that he is going to be loaned out. It is tough because mentally he can feel pressured, or he can know that he has to get up to be a starter. It’s complex,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Izaguirre reiterated his support for Palma, stressing that the player still represents Honduras on a big stage.
“I have to support him, encourage him, we have to be with him because he represents us. He’s in the Champions League and we all want to see a Honduran because there are Panamanians and Costa Ricans.”
Meanwhile, reports have emerged that Celtic are already eyeing up potential replacements for Palma, should his situation not improve. One name being floated is Michel-Ange Balikwisha, a winger from Royal Antwerp.
Antwerp’s CEO, Sven Jaecques, has indicated that a price tag has been placed on the 22-year-old, saying: “He has a value of €6m (£5m) and a contract until 2026. He himself is keen on a transfer.”