Celtic have made some eyebrow-raising transfer decisions in recent years. One of them was replacing Joe Hart, who had retired at the end of last season, with someone even older than him. Kasper Schmeichel has proven himself since arriving in the summer though and already agreed an extension with the Hoops.
Last week, he was arguably Celtic's best performer against Bayern Munich in their first leg Champions League meeting at Parkhead. But if things had worked out a bit differently, he might have been sitting in the other dugout on the day.
As it turns out, Schmeichel had all but agreed to join Bayern Munich not too long ago. But a move failed to materialise at the last minute.
As reported by The Scottish Sun, Schmeichel said:
"There were discussions about me joining Bayern – basically, everything was kind of agreed and then it just fell through at the last second when I was on my way to the airport.
"I’d spoken to the hierarchy and I knew what my role was going to be, it was keeping the seat warm until Manuel came back.
"I was more than fine with that, to have played for a club of this stature would have been more than enough, so I said: ‘Send the contract, I don't even need to know what it is, I’ll sign it anyway.'
"So, yeah, it would have been a dream come true, but it wasn't to be."
Celtic player was on the verge of joining Bayern Munich
Schmeichel has managed to get a lot of success over the course of his career, winning both the Premier League and FA Cup while with Leicester City. Even in the twilight of his playing days, he is a regular starter for Celtic and competing for trophies on a consistent basis.
But one has to think that playing for a club like Bayern Munich would have still be a dream come true for the Danish goalkeeper. It was not to be though.
Of course, Celtic fans are delighted to have him between the posts. There might have been some doubts about bringing in a goalkeeper of his age but he has proven the doubters wrong already with plety of assured performances in goal.
Now, it remains to be seen how things play out for Celtic in the second leg at the Allianz Arena. If they are to win, Schmeichel will need to be at his very best and then some. against the Bavarian giants.