New Celtic signing Shane Duffy has been opening up on his relationship with Rangers defender and ex-Brighton teammate Connor Goldson after signing for our Parkhead rivals.
The Republic of Ireland centre-half has joined Celtic on a season-long loan from Brighton with Neil Lennon’s side reportedly shelling out a £2m fee and £25k per week on wages to secure the player.
Still friends from the duo’s time together with the Seagulls, Duffy explained that it might be a bit harder to keep that up when the two come head to head in the Old Firm derby.
The big defender also claimed the Rangers star told the player to “stay away” from Parkhead.
“He actually told me not to come,” said Duffy [Herald].
“He said ‘stay away!’ But we have a good relationship.
“I am very close with Connor from my Brighton days. It’s a difficult one. It’s different up here but we are close so yeah…it’s an awkward one!
“He is still my friend so it’s hard to tell what will happen because the rivalry is so fierce.
“He’s a mate but listen, when I play against him, he won’t be a mate. He will be the exact same!”
Duffy’s comments come after Connor Goldson jibed the defender on Instagram when the Irishman signed for Celtic.
On the 28-year-old’s Instagram post announcing his move to Celtic, Goldson wrote:
“Does the contract have a 14 day cancellation period?” followed by a facepalm and a vomit emoji.
Goldson’s former Rangers teammate Andy Halliday also previously alleged that Goldson told him Duffy “hates” him.
“I’m not even joking here by the way,” said Halliday [Open Goal].
“I’ve been told that the boy Shane Duffy hates me. I’m no even joking, that’s no even a joke, I’ve heard he hates me.
“He’s mad Celtic and Connor Goldon’s like ‘aw Shane Duffy hates you man’.”
The Celtic hype-train has gone into overdrive concerning the signing of Sergio/Paolo/Franco Duffy but the Republic of Ireland stopper was absolutely outplayed and outshone by a leading Gers star during the break.
