Odin Thiago Holm, the forgotten Celtic loan star, has revealed he underwent surgery to cure a rare calf condition, hoping to reignite his football career. The 23-year-old Norwegian, who has two years left on his Celtic deal, is currently on loan at Valerenga in his homeland.
Holm suffers from compartment syndrome, where swelling increases pressure within muscles and can reduce blood flow. He previously described the condition as leaving him 'half paralysed'. Since June 2023, he has played only 536 minutes of football.
Surgery Despite Celtic's Advice
Despite Celtic advising against surgery, Holm went under the knife. He said: "I finally got it operated on and it feels really good. I'm a little more optimistic after talking to some people who have been through the same thing and got better. So I'll just keep my fingers crossed."
He added: "An operation was talked about for a long time, but Celtic wanted to go in a more conservative direction without it having any effect, so it ended up with surgery. It's good to come to a place where they have understanding and knowledge of the damage, so we can get it sorted out."
Looking Ahead
Holm is optimistic about his future: "I haven't played that much football, so I've learned how to get through tough times. That's an extra part of my experience too. I think I have a future playing football. As long as my legs are okay now, there's nothing holding me back."
He aims to make an impact in the Norwegian League for the rest of his loan spell at Valerenga. He noted: "It's not like a player from here couldn't have gone straight into the Celtic team and done well. The difference in quality isn't that big. Valerenga and the Norwegian League as a whole are in a good place and the league has made big strides in recent years in terms of intensity, among other things."
