Egypt's Haissem Hassan has been labelled a transfer smash hit for Celtic following his £6m move, with his World Cup performances marking a remarkable journey from the outskirts of Paris to the global stage.
During the World Cup, Hassan produced a stunning solo run that set up a goal for Mo Salah and Mostafa Ziko, only for VAR to controversially disallow it due to a foul in the build-up. Despite this, Hassan later assisted Ziko as Egypt threatened to upset Argentina, who came back from two goals down to win.
World Cup Impact and Reaction
Egypt's coach Hossam Hassan, no relation, criticised the decision, saying: "It’s all about money. They want Messi to stay in the tournament. In football, many things happen off the pitch because of interests. What happened was unfair. Egypt deserved to qualify. We were the better team."
Despite the heartbreak, Hassan's stock rose significantly, with his performances drawing comparisons to World Cup greats like Diego Maradona and Saeed Al-Owairan.
Career Journey and Background
Born in France to a Tunisian mother and Egyptian father, Hassan was earmarked as a future star for Les Bleus during his youth career at Paris FC. He moved to Chateauroux to break into senior football, making his debut as a teenager with special dispensation from school teachers.
He later joined Villarreal's B team in Spain, with loan spells at Mirandes and Sporting Gijon before a permanent move to Real Oviedo, where he helped them gain promotion to La Liga.
Celtic Move and Future Prospects
Hassan's form earned him a call-up to Egypt's World Cup squad, where he played in the last 32 win against Australia. Reflecting on the moment, he said: "Honestly it's incredible, because you know that in Egypt there are 120 million people you've made happy today."
Despite concerns about his relatively low-key club career, observers believe his eye-test performance at the World Cup will be a launchpad for the 24-year-old at Celtic.
