Marc-Antoine Fortune’s early experiences of life as a Celtic player have already convinced him that he’s made the right move. After all, what other football club could travel to the other side of the world and still manage to command an audience of over 1,000 for a training session?
Celtic’s trip to Australia was a roaring success on and off the park, and it gave Fortune an opportunity to get to know his new team-mates, as well as meeting up with his former boss from his loan spell at West Brom, Tony Mowbray.
And the striker is clearly looking forward to life with the Hoops.
“This is a new challenge for me,” he told the Celtic View in his first exclusive interview with the magazine. “I have never played for a club which must win every game, so it’s a new challenge.
“When you come to a club like Celtic, one which is used to winning titles and playing in the Champions League, then your ambition must be as high as the club's.
"My ambition is to win titles here and I want us to achieve something in the Champions League. We have the players, the supporters, the stadium and the manager - we have everything we need to do something fantastic here.
“Yes, there will be pressure, and like I said, I have never played for a club which must win every game, but I am a quick learner and I am ready for that.”
Fortune’s attitude and principles have made an early impression. There were easier, more lucrative offers on the table for him and instead of making the move to Glasgow he could have opted for a far simpler life in the English Premiership.
The league may enjoy greater exposure and worldwide coverage than its Scottish equivalent, but the demands of playing for a team whose main ambition is mid-table security does not begin to compare to the sheer intensity of a hard-fought title race.
Ultimately for Fortune, it was a football decision, a simple matter of putting his desire to succeed and achieve ahead of boosting his bank balance.
"Why shouldn't football be more important than money?” he said. “When I started to play when I was young I didn't do it because I wanted to make money - I did it because it was my passion. If I can continue to play football for passion, then why not?
"Yes, money is a big part of the game today, but it is not the only thing. Yes, there were other clubs interested in me, but I didn't pay attention to any of that because my first choice was Celtic.
"I can already feel the passion for football in this country. When people come and talk to you, you understand how important football is to them.”
Source: CelticFC.net
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