Gvidas Gineitis has said he still views Celtic as an “interesting” opportunity after his summer move from Torino collapsed. The 23-year-old Lithuania international was a long-term target for the Scottish champions, first considered in January as a replacement for Arne Engels following a £25million bid from Nottingham Forest.
Summer move collapses
After Engels joined West Ham for £22million earlier this summer, Gineitis became Celtic’s top midfield target, with interest intensifying in the final days of the transfer window. The Scottish champions pushed to sign the playmaker before the deadline, but Serie A side Torino told them their potential £9million bid would not be enough to secure a sale.
While on international duty, Gineitis admitted he was open to joining Celtic last summer, and Record Sport understands a deal could be revived in the January transfer window.
Player’s comments
Speaking to Lithuanian outlet 15min about the transfer interest, Gineitis said: “Whether you want to or not, you still think about all this a little bit. You understand that maybe something could happen, that something is happening. But I'm glad that I always manage to concentrate on the club I'm in.”
Asked specifically about Celtic, he left the door open, stating: “It would be an interesting and good experience, it's interesting to test myself at such a level, at such a club. But now I'm where I am. If the club [Torino] wanted to sell and another club wanted to buy, the question would be how much they would give me to play there. Of course, I would consider if it would help me and I wanted to leave.... Everything would ultimately still depend on my decision.”
Torino frustrations
Torino boss Ignazio Abate has openly criticised the player after a rocky start to the season and dropped Gineitis for the clash with Bologna ahead of the international break. Asked about his relationship with the coach, who took charge in the summer, Gineitis said: “The coach has changed, the philosophy of the game has changed. We play with the ball more, we know what we have to do on the field, how to keep the ball in the middle. I think everything is really good with the current coach. Of course, I want to play better, do everything better. And that pressure from society... It will always be there. It will be there my whole life in football and I'm used to it.”
