Former German international Marvin Compper joined Celtic in the January transfer window this year but has made just one appearance for the Hoops since then. Even when the likes of Dedryck Boyata and Jozo Šimunović were unavailable this season, the defender could not get an opportunity in the first team. It now seems like the £1m signing could turn out to be a big-time flop in Scotland.
Brendan Rodgers even went on to bring young Filip Benkovic from Leicester City on loan late in the transfer window. That is a clear indication that the manager doesn’t trust him to start at the back. The Celtic faithful would have expected much better from the man who went on to represent Germany once and has the experience of close to 200 games in the Bundesliga.
Chris Davies, Rodgers’ right-hand man recently explained his situation at the club. He said,”Marvin has had a difficult time since he got here, with injury as well. He has to keep working hard, and we’ll see what happens.” The defender was dropped from the Europa League squad and his time at Celtic Park might be coming to an end.
Even when he was with RB Leipzig, he looked like a defender who could make an impact at Celtic Park. Compper is known to be a good reader of the game and is strong in his challenges. His aerial abilities are also top notch, and Rodgers would have thought that he was getting a first-team option when he spent £1m to land him in the January transfer window. However, he hasn’t settled at all in Scotland and his time has also been plagued with injuries.
This is just the second time in his career that he is playing outside Germany. When he was with Italian outfit Fiorentina, he lasted only one year as he failed to break into the first team on a regular basis. Maybe Rodgers isn’t much impressed with what Compper has to offer, hence he hasn’t featured in the match days squads this season. The exclusion from the Europa squad seems like the final nail in Compper’s coffin.
The 33-year-old has a contract at Celtic until 2020, so there is still time for the experienced defender to revive his career at Park Head. But one shouldn’t expect much from a player who is struggling to get in the matchday squads. He currently is the sixth choice centre back with the likes of Benkovic, Kristoffer Ajer, Dedryck Boyata, Jack Hendry and Jozo Simunovic above him in the pecking order. Admittedly, it will need a big turn around from Compper to get any game time.
