Josh Rae has revealed that his 'heart' led him to Celtic, despite having trials at Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Everton.
The goalkeeper, who now plies his trade with Raith Rovers in the Scottish Championship, joined the Parkhead club's academy from Hamilton Academical in March 2014 at just 13 years of age.
He could very easily have moved abroad or down south instead, though, as Rae recently lifted the lid on how he sat down with Thibaut Courtois and the legendary Diego Simeone while at Atleti.
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He said [Scottish Sun]: "I went to Madrid for 16 days, came home and was meant to go back over.
"Hamilton were great with me. They were pushing me to go out and train with these teams because it’s good for them as well.
"It was all an experience and one I look back on now and think it was amazing.
"Courtois came in when I was having my lunch. He sat and had lunch with me and complimented me!
"I’m just sat there staring up at him and thinking, ‘Is this actually who it is?’.
"He didn’t have to come in and speak to me because I’m just a 12-year-old boy who’s over for training.
"But he spent 15, 20 minutes sitting speaking to me and that was brilliant.
"Diego Simeone came in ten minutes after him and spoke to me, too.
"My dad was there. We were both sat there with our mouths open, wondering if this was all really happening.
"I went down to Liverpool and Everton, too. Those were great opportunities and experiences, but when the Celtic one came up, that was it kind of done. My heart probably took me to Celtic.
"Maybe it wasn’t the right thing to do, but you can’t do anything about the past.
"Everything happens for a reason and I feel I’ve done quite well for what I’ve been through and where I’ve been."
Rae only spent three years at Celtic before leaving for Leeds United. He has since had spells at a host of clubs, both north and south of the border, and currently finds himself in Kirkcaldy with Raith.
