Former Celtic transfer target David Strelec will start for Middlesbrough at Parkhead this afternoon.
The striker had been linked with a move to Celtic last year but now plays for the Championship club.
It had been reported that Celtic had a bid rejected for the forward in the winter transfer window before Strelec moved to England the following summer.
The Slovakia internationalist reportedly joined Middlesbrough for £6.5 million with a further £2.5 million in add-ons to Slovan Bratislava.
So far, Strelec has eight goals for the English club.
"Celtic was a more realistic option in the winter," said Strelec on the Pressko podcast. "Whereas this summer, it was basically not an option at all.
"What surprised me was that their media put it out, though my father probably didn’t help with his words!
"There were only two serious options this summer. Monterrey in Mexico and Middlesbrough. I had a call with Monterrey, but I was much more inclined to Middlesbrough.
"I wanted to stay in European football. Celtic were there in the winter, but it all got complicated around an agent they were using that wasn’t my agent. It all got complicated.
"Of course, Celtic is a big club. It wasn’t an easy decision. But I’d also spoken with Middlesbrough in the winter - I spoke with their scout and sporting director - and I could feel that they really wanted me. I just felt if I could get a transfer here it would be a really good move."
