John Guidetti’s Celtic European night hopes

John Guidetti hopes he'll get to experience European nights like those between Celtic and Barcelona at Parkhead. Picture: Robert Perry

The Swedish striker joined the Hoops on a year-long-loan from Manchester City on Thursday after FIFA signed off on the move despite paperwork coming through after Monday’s transfer deadline.

But he was signed too late to feature in the club’s Europa League group stage clashes and will have to hope the Scottish champions can progress into the knock-out rounds after Christmas when he can then be registered.

The 22-year-old told the Parkhead outfit’s official website: “It’s really nice to be part of Celtic.

“I was standing in a coffee house yesterday when I got the news and I was actually dancing because I was so happy. I really was buzzing.

“Everybody knows what a great football club this is, especially in Sweden when Henrik Larsson was playing here. It’s also a very well-known club because of the fans, who are so passionate and brilliant.

European nights

“Even the people at City told me about the European nights. They said it’s the best atmosphere in the world. People just don’t say that for no reason and it must be true because I’ve heard it from so many places.”

Guiedetti is the latest Swede to don the Hoops but he hopes to make the same kind of impact as managed by Larsson, Johan Mijalby and Mikael Lustig.

He added: “I know Johan very well and I’ve spoken to Henrik a couple of times. I know what the fans are expecting but Henrik was an amazing striker and they are very big shoes to fill but I promise will do my very best to do even a little bit of what he did.

“It’s a lot to live up to and I’m going to do my best.

Great club

“They just told me what a great club it is and it’s not for no reason that Henrik stayed for so many years. He was very much wanted in Europe, we all know that, because later he went to Barcelona and Manchester United, but he stayed because it was an amazing club to play for and that tells you all you need to know about Celtic.

“I know so much about Celtic. As soon as the club came for me I knew straight away, Celtic is the one and that’s where I want to go.

“I spoke to the manager and I felt a good connection with him and that Celtic was a club that knew about me and were genuine about what they liked, which is so important.

“With a good manager and good fans and players, you can never go wrong.

“I’m just going to work my socks off to try to do my absolute very best every game and give 100 per cent because that’s what the fans deserve.”