Camilo Duran scored a fine equaliser as Celtic played out a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough, but the story of the day was the tens of thousands of empty seats at Celtic Park. Hoops supporters are growing increasingly frustrated with the club's lack of activity in the transfer market and voted with their feet, leaving vast swathes of the stadium unoccupied.
Empty Seats Tell a Story
Only the Main Stand and the bottom half of the North Stand were open to punters, and even those sections were far from full. Middlesbrough brought around 5,000 noisy fans north, and there were not many more home supporters in the ground. Chief executive Michael Nicholson and interim chairman Brian Wilson were absent, with fans hoping they were away completing deals. A year ago this weekend, more than 50,000 saw Celtic thump Newcastle United. Now, the contrast could not be starker.
Fan Ire Over Transfers
The frustration boiled over after two deals collapsed. Celtic missed out on re-signing Kelechi Iheanacho after allowing an extension clause to expire, with the striker instead joining Bursaspor in the Turkish second division. Loan star Marcelo Saracchi publicly criticised the board on Friday, saying he and his agent did all they could to secure a return. Both players had fitness issues last season, but the optics have piled more pressure on the club's custodians.
Duran Shines Bright
Amid the gloom, the one signing Celtic have made this summer is looking the part. Camilo Duran, a £6 million arrival, scored his second goal in two pre-season appearances with a slick finish. The Colombian worked tirelessly to harass defenders and showed intelligent movement into dangerous areas. Not viewed as a penalty-box poacher, he popped up in the danger zone and slammed home after a cool slipped pass from Luke McCowan.
Strelec Haunts Celtic
Middlesbrough's opener came from David Strelec, a player Celtic tried to sign in January 2025 as a replacement for Kyogo. The former Slovan Bratislava striker headed to the Riverside instead for an initial £6.5 million. He looked the part here, stretching the Celtic defence and producing a sharp finish from a poorly defended corner. However, he has not exactly lit up the Championship, so he is not one that got away.
Youngster McArdle Impresses
Youngster Sean McArdle made the most of his chance to catch his gaffer's eye. The 18-year-old wide man was bright on the ball and willing to take on his man repeatedly. He got some joy during his hour on the pitch, but the test is whether he can break into the first team. After a taste under former boss Brendan Rodgers at the end of the 2024/25 campaign and a loan spell at Partick Thistle, he might get another crack as Celtic are crying out for wide players.
Physical Test Highlights Needs
The friendly provided a proper physical test for Celtic, with Middlesbrough packed full of big lumps. Celtic looked like Munchkins in comparison, and some muscle must be on manager O'Neill's long list of transfer requirements. Reo Hatate and Arne Engels added some beef after the break, and Celtic dominated the ball and chances. Title-decider hero Callum Osmand came closest, hitting the post from close range before the rebound cannoned back off him and then off the opposite upright. It raised a chuckle, but the mood around the club will be far from jovial until the gaps are filled.
