Celtic manager Martin O’Neill believes Camilo Duran has all the qualities to become a key player for the Hoops after the forward delivered another eye-catching performance in the club’s final pre-season fixture against AC Milan.
The Scottish champions were moments away from ending their summer preparations with a statement victory before the Italian giants fought back to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw.
Duran was the standout performer for Celtic, opening the scoring before producing the assist for James Forrest’s goal as the Hoops raced into a two-goal advantage.
However, AC Milan responded after the interval through highly-rated youngster Francesco Camarda, who converted from the penalty spot before completing the comeback with a well-taken header.
While Celtic were left frustrated at surrendering their lead, O’Neill focused on the positives from an encouraging performance and reserved special praise for Duran, whose influence continues to grow ahead of the new campaign.
Facing one of Europe’s biggest clubs provided Celtic with a valuable test before competitive football resumes, and Duran seized the opportunity to impress.
The attacker looked sharp throughout the contest, causing problems for Milan’s defence with his movement, pace and composure in possession.
His well-taken opening goal rewarded Celtic’s bright start before he turned provider, creating James Forrest’s finish to double the Scottish side’s advantage.
Although the result ended level, Duran’s display strengthened his growing reputation as one of Celtic’s most exciting attacking options.
Reflecting on his performance after the match, O’Neill made no secret of how highly he rates the forward.
“I think Camilo Duran is a really good player. If he steers clear of injury he’ll be a big asset to us,” said O’Neill.
The manager’s comments underline the importance of keeping the talented attacker fit as Celtic prepare for a demanding domestic and European campaign.
O’Neill admitted there was plenty to admire from his team’s overall performance, even if the result left room for improvement.
Celtic controlled large periods of the first half and showed fluency in possession before losing momentum after the break.
The manager believes a lapse in concentration ultimately allowed AC Milan back into the contest.
“In terms of pre-season, I really enjoyed it. I thought we did some really good things in the game. We just lost our concentration after half-time.”
Francesco Camarda’s penalty shortly after the restart shifted the momentum, and the young striker completed the comeback with a powerful header that denied Celtic victory.
Despite the disappointment of conceding twice, O’Neill appeared satisfied with the progress made during pre-season.
Beyond Duran’s standout display, the Celtic boss also highlighted the contribution of several academy players who featured throughout the club’s summer schedule.
With competition for places increasing, O’Neill believes the youngsters have given themselves every chance of challenging for senior opportunities during the season.
One player who particularly caught his attention was Tam Hatton.
“It would be nice to see some more of the young players, they’ve been with us in pre-season. Tam Hatton did well to take players on, which is a dying art. It’s really encouraging and there is a battle on to get into the side.”
His remarks suggest Celtic’s emerging talents have made a strong impression and could play a bigger role as the campaign unfolds.
Although Celtic were unable to preserve their two-goal advantage, the performance offered several reasons for optimism.
The attacking partnership between Duran and Forrest looked promising, while the overall intensity and creativity demonstrated that the squad is moving in the right direction under O’Neill.
The draw also served as a reminder of the standards required against elite European opposition, particularly when it comes to maintaining focus over 90 minutes.
For O’Neill, the match was less about the final score and more about the encouraging signs shown by his players.
If Duran can remain injury-free and continue producing performances like the one against AC Milan, Celtic may have discovered one of their most important attacking weapons ahead of what promises to be another demanding season.
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