From Cork to Como via Portugal and Paradise – Celtic’s pre-season plans | OneFootball

From Cork to Como via Portugal and Paradise. Pre- season-preparations will set Celtic up perfectly for the huge challenges ahead…

The Celtic fans enjoy the occasion. Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, – 17 May 2025 Photo Robert Perry Shutterstock

Celtic yesterday confirmed our report from last week that the club would be heading to Italy for a pre-season tournament at the picturesque setting of Lake Como in Northern Italy after being invited to participate  alongside hosts, the Serie A side Como who are currently managed by Cesc Fabregas.

Celtic’s double medal winner Alex Valle this week completed his transfer from Barcelona to Como in €6m move so will get the chance to meet up with his old Celtic teammates. Valle won a League Cup medal in December after Celtic defeated theRangers in the final and will also pick up a Scottish Premiership medal from his time at the club.

Alex Valle signs on for Como after his €6m transfer from Barcelona. Photo Como FC

Alex Valle signs on for Como after his €6m transfer from Barcelona. Photo Como FC

Dutch giants Ajax will also participate alongside Saudi side Al-Ahli in what is sure to be a stern test for the Scottish Champions as Brendan Rodgers prepares his team for the new season and of course the crucial Champions League qualifier in late August.

Before we travel to Italy we will take on Cork in the inaugural Cork Super Cup at the Supervalu Pairc Ui Chaoimh in what it sure to be a great occasion before travelling to a training camp in Portugal where we are expected to take on Portuguese champions Sporting Club.

Then it’s back to Glasgow to take on champions league participants Newcastle United at Celtic before departing for Como.

Although fitness is the main priority, these sort of games against decent opponents will give our players a stern test as they bid to be in top shape ahead of the new campaign which will of course include a champions league play off tie in late August.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Here’s how we told you last week about the tournament in Como and the pre-season trip to Portugal…

Celtic are set to come up against Alex Valle and his teammates at his new club Como in July and the Scottish Champions will also take on old foes Ajax in a pre-season mini-tournament in Italy…

Alex Valle with the Premier Sports Cup after Celtic’s victory over theRangers on 15 December 2024 at Hampden Park. Photo Kenny Ramsay

Cesc Fabregas is the manager at Serie A side Como and his influence brought Alex Valle’s season long loan to a premature close in the January window. The loan was instead moved to Como before Fabregas took up the £5m option to buy in Alex Valle’s Barcelona contract to being the talented young left back to Como on a permanent basis.

So rather than worrying about the cost of posting Valle’s Scottish Premiership medal to Italy, Brendan can just deliver it in person after Celtic, according to a report in Scottish Sun, accepted an invitation to participate in Como’s min–tournament in July.

Launch of the Inaugural Cork Super Cup, SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork 3 3 2025 Celtic FC player Adam Idah, Cork hurler Rob Downey and Cork City™s Cathal O™Sullivan. Photo INPHO Morgan Treacy

Celtic’s pre-season is certainly takin shape. The action begins in Ireland against Cork City on Tuesday 8 July before the Hoops fly to a training camp in Portugal and a match against Sporting Club down in Faro. Celtic will return to Glasgow on 17 July and then will take on Newcastle United at Celtic Park two days later, as Eddie Howe finally gets to see Paradise.

Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe (l) with assistant Jason Tindall during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St. James Park on December 27, 2021. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

After that there’s been a gap in the schedule ahead of Flag Day at Celtic Park in early August. So it’s off to Como which is in the North of Italy or a three team tournament involving the hosts Como, Celtic and our old Dutch rivals Ajax with Celtic playing matches on Thursday 24 and Saturday 26 July before return to Lennoxtown for a week’s preparation for the start of the Premiership campaign as Brendan Rodgers targets a 56th title for the club.

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