Celtic-bound Ki Sung-Yong has told fans of the Glasgow giants that he wants to be the new Steven Gerrard, not the new Shunsuke Nakamura.
Japanese midfielder Nakamura remains a hero for Hoops fans after helping the club win three league titles in his four seasons in Scotland.
South Korea’s Ki, who is expected to complete a two-million-pound move from FC Seoul in the January transfer window, hopes to have a similar impact but has stressed that he is a different kind of player.
“There’s big pressure on me arriving and playing for Celtic,” the 20-year-old was quoted as saying by Thursday’s Scottish edition of The Sun tabloid.
“People will be expecting me to be the new Nakamura, but I’m not. He was a wonderful player and really gifted technically, but that’s not the style I play.
“I’m younger, faster and stronger. In South Korea, people compare me to (Liverpool and England’s) Steven Gerrard, and I’ll admit that’s who I’ve based my game on.
“But Gerrard is one of the best and most recognised midfielders in the world. At the moment, I’m not, but that’s what I want to become.
“Gerrard is my idol, he’s the complete midfielder. He can score, he can pass and he never stops working. That’s why he’s the best in the world and that’s what I want to be.
“My other hero was Zinedine Zidane. I’m not trying to say I’m as good as these players – but one day I would like to be.”
Ki is expected in Glasgow this weekend to finalise his move and is hoping to follow up playing in the World Cup for his country by getting a taste of Champions League football with Celtic next season.
“I know they missed out this year. For a club like that not to be playing at the highest level isn’t right.”
