New Celtic signing Efrain Juarez ready to grab his second chance

UP until recently, Mexican professional footballers were very much like their country's wines. They were not exactly noted for travelling well.

While it remains unusual to spot a Mexican vintage on the shelves of your local supermarket, however, the export of their leading players has become far more frequent and successful.

Rafael Marquez, captain of the Mexican national team and a trailblazer with his successful career at Barcelona, observed that his country's impressive performance at this summer's World Cup finals in South Africa was directly related to more of his team-mates broadening their horizons and heading for Europe.

Celtic have become the latest club to explore the Mexican market, yesterday completing the signing of Efrain Juarez on a four-year contract. The 22-year-old, who is the first Mexican player to ply his trade in Scotland, is clearly more than content to stray outside of his comfort zone.

Juarez, who can play at right-back but is more likely to be used in his favoured wide midfield position by Celtic manager Neil Lennon, is having his second shot at making the grade in European football after a spell at Barcelona as a teenager saw him unable to earn first team recognition.

He has successfully rehabilitated himself back home with UNAM Pumas where his form earned him a place in the senior Mexican squad and attracted the attention of Lennon. Juarez spoke to the media with the aid of an interpreter yesterday, although his command of English is already more than passable, and he has no doubts about his ability to cope with the change of environment and culture he will encounter in Scotland.

"I will adapt to life here very fast, I won't have a problem with this," said Juarez. "I had the experience before in Barcelona and I have matured since then. I don't have a problem with moving away from Mexico. When I get a house here, maybe my parents will come and join me, but everything is okay here.

"The coach trusts me and I know he was interested in me before the World Cup finals. After the World Cup, my agent told me Celtic wanted me and I wanted to sign for this big club.

"People in Mexico are very happy for me and it is exciting to come to this country I am the first Mexican to play here and I'm very proud of this.

"The SPL is shown every weekend on Mexican satellite television, so the people will be watching me." Juarez has spoken to his compatriots Carlos Vela and Giovani dos Santos, who play for Arsenal and Tottenham respectively, about what he can expect in British football.

The trio were team-mates in the Mexican side which won the Fifa under-17 World Championships in 2005 to spark a wave of interest from European clubs.

"They tell me that I will need to work hard every day here," said Juarez. "That I need to work hard in training and give everything I have.

"I have also spoken to Marc Crosas, who was at Barcelona when I was there and of course is now here at Celtic. He told me it is a big club with amazing supporters and that you must win every match." Juarez also plans to stay in close touch with another of his Mexican international team-mates, Javier Hernandez, of whom much is expected at Manchester United in the coming season. "Maybe on our days off we will be able to see each other, because I know Manchester is not so far from Glasgow," he said. "Javier is a good friend of mine and a great player."

Juarez has had a little over two weeks' holiday since Mexico's elimination from the World Cup but he insists he will not be a victim of the jaded after- effects which Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has predicted for those players who were on duty in South Africa.

"I went to Acapulco for my vacation," he smiled, "and I think two or three weeks off is enough. I feel very good right now and feel ready to play.

"The coach has told me he thinks my best position is midfield, and I am happy about that as I prefer to play there. It is up to the coach, of course, but I feel I can play right away."

Juarez may well get his wish as he has been registered in time to make his debut for Lennon's side in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie against Braga in Portugal tomorrow night.

"The Champions League was important for me, although not the most important thing in signing for Celtic," added Juarez.

"I know Celtic has a big history and is well known in Europe. Even in Mexico, we know that in 1967 they were the first team to win the European Cup as well as their own league and cup in the same season.

"So it is a historic club and I would love to be part of this history.

"Braga is a very important game but I trust in the squad that Celtic have and that we can go through to the group stage of the Champions League this season."