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More could follow Crosas
Celtic, 17:45, August 10, 2008 ,
Celtic say more youth or fringe players at Barcelona could join after Marc Crosas was unveiled before the 1-0 win over St Mirren.
Gordon Strachan's side kicked off their SPL campaign with a controversial win at Celtic Park as Barry Robson's penalty saw off St Mirren but it was new-boy Crosas who was the main talking point before the game after he was paraded following his complex move from Barcelona.
The 20-year-old, who made his first-team debut for the La Liga giants in 2006, has agreed a four-year contract after Celtic paid an initial £415,000 for him that could eventually rise to £1.65million, depending on appearances.
However, Barca could buy back the Spaniard in two years for £1.65million with Celtic retaining a claim to 25% of any future fee he generates.
The deal is the first of its kind between the two clubs but chief executive Peter Lawwell says more players of a similar calibre could arrive and revealed Argentina forward Javier Saviola and Portugal winger Ricardo Quaresma turned down the chance of similar moves.
"We would have taken Quaresma and Saviola but the players decided not to come," he told the Sunday Herald.
"We have always thought that this formula could be successful, so we have looked at Crosas. We are not finally there but that deal is now a structure which will hopefully allow us to add players going forward.
"Hopefully it makes a lot of sense. Not only with Barcelona but with other clubs too."
He added: "A young or fringe Barcelona player could come here, play in our first team, play in front of 60,000 and in Europe and develop as a player. Both clubs could benefit from that."
Crosas watched as his new side began the defence of their title with a narrow win thanks to Robson's spot-kick but St Mirren were disappointed at the award of the penalty and Will Haining's sending off.
Referee Eddie Smith ruled Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink had been held back by defender when clean through on goal.