Vasilis Barkas looks a man transformed at FC Utrecht | OneFootball

One of the players who departed Celtic in the summer transfer window was Vasilis Barkas. The big Greek goalkeeper never quite managed to cut the mustard at Celtic and was farmed out after failing to live up to expectations under two managers and a caretaker of our football club.

He seems to have found some form over in the Netherlands where he moved to at the beginning of the season with FC Utrecht. The Dutch team have been good for the ‘keeper and his confidence that was absolutely depleted before he left through the doors at Celtic Park.

FC Utrecht goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas, Vangelis Pavlidis or AZ Alkmaar during the round of 16 of the TOTO KNVB Cup between AZ Alkmaar and FC Utrecht at AFAS stadium on February 7, 2023 in Alkmaar, Netherlands ANP ED VAN DE POL Dutch Cup round of 16 2022 2023 VI ANP Sport

With several reports making their way into the Celtic cyberspace domain that Barkas has been enjoying quite the renaissance in the Utrecht jersey with his new employers, it bodes well for the Hoops getting any kind of fee for a man that looked scared of a ball being kicked in his general direction.

He’s been Man of the Match several times and that has certainly added to this new found confidence that he is playing his football with once again. Well, Barkas has been at it again, saving a penalty in a KNVB Beker Cup match this week. His displays and crucial save to deny AZ Alkmaar’s Jesper Karlsson.

UTRECHT, 04-02-2023. Stadion Galgenwaard, Stadium of Utrecht. Dutch Eredivisie Divisie Football season 2022-2023. Utrecht – Heerenveen. Utrecht goalkeeper Vasilios Barkas on the ball during the game Utrecht – Heerenveen. Utrecht – Heerenveen

The goalkeeper also had objects thrown at him from the home side’s support in another shameful episode by the unsavoury element of football fans that seem intent in bringing the beautiful game into disrepute. Thankfully, Barkas wasn’t hurt, but as we’ve seen with Celtic’s medic at Ibrox, it isn’t always a lucky escape.

Take a look at Barkas’ save from the penalty spot:

Barkas looks a man transformed! Hopefully a deal can be struck in the summer and Celtic can recover some of the record fee paid by the club for a goalkeeper to AEK Athens in July 2020.

Paul Gillespie

More Stories / Latest

Vasilis Barkas looks a man transformed at FC Utrecht

Feb 8 2023, 17:07

Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic chasing down Invincibles’ 106 points total

Feb 8 2023, 16:24

“It could have been a different story for me at Celtic,” Ireland’s Jonathan Afolabi

Feb 8 2023, 13:59