Maverick midfielder Thomas Gravesen has opened up on what motivated his stunning transfer from Spanish giants Real Madrid to Celtic.
He made the £2m move in 2006 after Gordon Strachan moved to bring him back to the UK after his transfer to Real from Everton had failed to take off.
The Dane has achieved cult status in Scotland recently, partly due to a plethora of zany stories recalled by Simon Ferry in his popular Open Goal YouTube interviews with former and current footballers.
Gravesen told Sky Sports : "Madrid were very clear what they wanted from players.
"They brought in (Fabio) Capello and he was straight with me and said 'I like you as a person but as a player, I will not be using you here'."
"He said he didn't have any space for me. I could've chosen to sit down and be made or angry.
"But I chose to join a fantastic club in Celtic and I don't regret that at all. It was quick and painless in Madrid."
Gravesen developed a distinctive part Scandinavian, part Scouse brogue during his time at Goodison but adding a Scottish twang to the mix from his time in Glasgow ended up being a non-starter.
He revealed: "I wasn't in Glasgow long enough (to develop the accent) though I loved every minute."
"I saw David Weir in Scotland and we played together for many years at Everton.
"On the park, there was a fierce rivalry but outside I was allowed to say 'hello' and 'how are you?' because I spent four or five years with David at Everton so that was what it was.
