Colin Kazim-Richards played with Tierney at Celtic and reckons he knows what the left-back is thinking
07:56, 02 Jun 2025
Celtic's Colin Kazim-Richards (centre) celebrates with Kieran Tierney (left) and Erik Sviatchenko(Image: PA)
Colin Kazim-Richards reckons nothing would have stopped Kieran Tierney returning to Celtic one day.
And he wouldn't be surprised if he's already been on the phone to his old pal Scott Brown to tap him up for a Parkhead return.
Tierney has signed a pre-contract agreement to return to Parkhead and he'll officially be a Celtic player from July 1 when his Arsenal deal expires.
He spent six years at the Emirates and leaves a popular figure – although perhaps not quite as popular as he is in the east end of Glasgow.
Nomadic striker Kazim-Richards was a fleeting teammate of both Tierney and Brown in 2016 and he believes his imminent return to Parkhead was always on the cards – even if he hadn't been hampered by injuries and kicked on like many hoped he would.
And, speaking to BetIdeas.com, he reckons the 27-year-old will now fancy his chances of becoming one of Brendan Rodgers' best players.
"I think that regardless of whatever happened in KT’s career, if he went on to become the best left-back in the world, he would have always returned to Celtic one day. He would have always gone back home.
"Obviously, he’s been heartbreakingly unlucky with his injuries. He could have been a massive player for Arsenal – they spoke about him as a future captain, everyone loves him there – but sometimes you don’t have the luck in your career. Celtic is Kieran and Kieran is Celtic. He loves Celtic.
"He might be thinking to himself, you know what, while I'm still young - and I don't want to go back when I'm 34, 35, 36 - I can go back and still massively impact the club I love for the next five or six years. I can go there and be one of Celtic’s best players. I can play in the Champions League with my boyhood club. I can win more titles.
"The one thing I can say about him is, even if he would have had an absolute blinder at Arsenal, even if he wasn’t plagued by injury, he'd always go back home.
"I wouldn’t surprise me if he’s been calling his mate Scott Brown and asking him if he would want to go back! KT and Broonie were like butter on bread.
"You know when it's minus 50 outside and he's in a T-shirt, he gets that from Broonie. I love KT. I hope it all goes well for him because he deserves it."
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