Eidur Gudjohnsen: Barcelona will use buy-back clause to nick Crosas

Oct 12 2008 Gavin Berry

EIDUR GUDJOHNSEN reckons silky Celt Marc Crosas is destined to blossom into a Barcelona star - and that's why the Spanish giants insisted on a buy-back clause in his contract.

The 20-year-old's assured displays in the Hoops engine room have caught the eye and he marked his first full 90 minutes by scooping man of the match against Hamilton last week.

Crosas quit the Nou Camp for Scotland in search of top-team football this summer and the early signs are his £400,000 transfer fee could prove a real snip.

However, Barca have demanded the option to buy back the midfielder for around £1.65million halfway through his four-year deal.

Gudjohnsen wasn't surprised because he's a huge fan of his former team-mate and believes he will eventually return to his first club a complete player.

Before then though, the Icelander reckons Celtic fans are in for a treat when Crosas hits top form and showcases the technical brilliance honed during his rise through the Barca youth ranks.

Gudjohnsen - a rival in Scotland's World Cup qualifying group - said: "Barcelona inserted clauses into Marc's contract so they can buy him back and that is understandable.

"When a player grows up with a club and you don't see him developing in the near future you might want to let him go with an option to re-sign him.

"Marc trained with us for parts of last year and was on our pre-season tour so he's a player I know well and have a lot of admiration for.

"He's a lovely boy and a good footballer - a defensive midfielder with the ability to get forward.

"He was on loan at Lyon last season and is definitely one for the future but he'll need time to adapt to the Scottish game.

"I didn't follow his situation too closely but was a bit surprised Barcelona let him go.

"However, I don't know if it was more a case of Marc wanting to leave because he probably wouldn't have been in the first 11 or even 15 for Barcelona this season.

"He's in his 20s and had played enough for the B side so needed a bigger challenge to progress his career.

"When you're not making the step up to the first team it's probably better to look elsewhere."

Gudjohnsen insists being offloaded is no reflection on Crosas' reputation at the Catalan club - and pointed to Real Madrid doing the same with Samuel Eto'o as a youngster.

He said: "The fact Barcelona were willing to let Marc go doesn't make him a bad player.

"Eto'o was allowed to leave Real Madrid at a young age and look at him now.

Players' careers develop in a different way and Marc has taken a great step forward.

"I'm sure he'll be an excellent signing for Celtic.Marc has great ability, awareness and tactical knowledge.

"Boys who grow up at Barcelona have excellent passing and one-touch ability. Marc never seems to be in trouble and always appears to have so much time on the ball. He's not afraid to put his foot in either so playing in Scotland will not be a problem for him.

"He's not big or physically strong but can hold his own.

"Having said that, against the occasional Scotsman he might come off second best but he doesn't lack heart or determination and Celtic can be happy to have captured a good player like Marc.

"He's used to pressure because at Barcelona you grow up with that so being an Old Firm player won't faze him.

"Marc is a also a great character off the park, always laughing and joking. He won't have any problems adapting to the Celtic dressing room."