KRIS BOYD REACTS AS CELTIC AGREE DEAL WITH ATLÉTICO NACIONAL TO BRING EX-RANGERS HERO STRIKER TO CELTIC PARK
Scottish football has been thrown into turmoil after Celtic agreed a stunning deal with Atlético Nacional to bring a former Rangers hero back to Glasgow in one of the most controversial transfers in Old Firm history.
The proposed move has already sparked fierce debate among supporters on both sides of the city, with emotions running high at the prospect of a player once celebrated at Ibrox now preparing for a dramatic switch across the divide. Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd has been among the first to react, admitting the deal would be seismic if completed.
The player at the centre of the storm is Alfredo Morelos.
The Colombian striker, who terrorised Scottish defences for years, is currently on loan at Atlético Nacional from Brazilian club Santos. Celtic have now reached an agreement with the Colombian side, with discussions over personal terms progressing as the Hoops push to strengthen their forward options ahead of the new campaign.
Morelos’ reputation in Scotland needs little explanation. During his time at Rangers between 2017 and 2023, he scored 108 goals, becoming one of the most prolific and feared forwards of the modern era. His goals came in league title challenges, European nights, and the fiercest Old Firm battles, where he thrived on pressure and hostility.
That history is what makes this potential move so explosive.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Kris Boyd admitted the transfer would be difficult for Rangers supporters to accept, regardless of how football evolves.
“It’s hard to believe,” Boyd said. “He was a goalscorer for Rangers simple as that. Seventy-eight goals tells its own story. If he ends up at Celtic, people will be talking about it for years.”
“From Celtic’s side, they’re looking at goals. They know exactly what he can do in this league.”
Celtic’s interest is understood to be driven by a desire for proven finishing rather than long-term development. Legendary former manager Martin O’Neill is believed to have looked favourably on the move, backing the idea of bringing in a striker who has already shown he can deliver goals under extreme pressure in Glasgow.
O’Neill has always valued forwards with personality, edge, and a ruthless streak in front of goal qualities that defined Morelos throughout his Rangers career.
The striker’s journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. He began his senior career in Colombia with Independiente Medellín, scoring his first professional goal before moving to Finland. His spell with HJK proved transformative, where he struck 27 goals, announcing himself as a serious attacking talent.
His move to Rangers later that year elevated him to cult-hero status. Over six seasons, Morelos became synonymous with goals, controversy, and big-game moments. His 78 goals ensured his name would be written into Rangers folklore, even as disciplinary issues and transfer speculation followed him constantly.
After leaving Rangers in 2023, Morelos joined Santos, where he added four goals before being loaned to Atlético Nacional. Back in Colombia, he rediscovered his confidence and sharpness, scoring 23 goals and re establishing himself as a reliable focal point in attack.
That resurgence has not gone unnoticed.
Reaction among supporters has been intense and divided. Some Celtic fans view the move as ruthless ambition signing a proven goalscorer with deep knowledge of the Scottish game while simultaneously striking a psychological blow against their biggest rivals. Others remain cautious, aware of the baggage that comes with a player so closely linked to Rangers.
For Rangers supporters, the idea is deeply uncomfortable. Many feel that a switch to Celtic would overshadow the goals Morelos scored in blue, altering how his time at Ibrox is remembered.
Yet Celtic appear prepared to embrace the controversy.
If the deal is completed, the Colombian striker’s return to Scottish football would guarantee drama, hostility, and relentless scrutiny. And with his goal record already established, he would arrive at Celtic Park knowing exactly what will be demanded of him.
