Celtic’s Victor Wanyama ‘played barefoot until 14’

Celtic star Victor Wanyama has revealed that while growing up in Kenya he didn’t even own a pair of football boots until he was 14.

The Hoops favourite, currently valued at around £15m, has said that he played without boots on for a large part of his childhood.

“I played barefooted. I didn’t get my first pair of boots until I was about 13 or 14, Puma ones,” he was reported as saying in the Daily Record.

“It’s a normal thing in Africa. Not everybody can afford the boots.”

The 21-year-old’s terrific form has contributed hugely to Celtic’s fortunes recently, in both domestic and European campaigns.

His goal helped Celtic battle past Barcelona in the Champions’ League, and he is now being linked to moves south of the border during the January transfer window.

However, manager Neil Lennon has said he wouldn’t let Wanyama go for anything less than £25m.

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