Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 10y

John Guidetti keen to push through Celtic move from Manchester City

John Guidetti is hopeful FIFA will finally allow him to complete his loan move from Manchester City to Celtic.

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The Sweden international striker was left in limbo when world football's governing body ruled that the paperwork had not been completed by the end of the transfer window on Monday.

But although the Premier League permitted Manchester United's Tom Cleverley, who was in a similar situation, to join Aston Villa on Tuesday, Guidetti has been frustrated and the Scottish Football Association (SFA) have taken up his case.

"The move looked to have gone to pieces but now the club has enabled the SFA to take up the matter with FIFA in the hope an exception can be made," Guidetti told Swedish paper Dagens Nyheter.

"Celtic felt good and it was the only club for me. The fans are very passionate and it would be nice if the deal went through."

Guidetti, 22, has never made a league appearance for City and has previously been loaned to Burnley, Feyenoord and Stoke.

 

But he has been named in the Premier League champions' 25-man squad for the first half of the season and the departure of another striker, Alvaro Negredo, could offer him opportunities at the Etihad Stadium.

He added: "If it [a move to Celtic] happens, fantastic, and if it doesn't, I still belong to a great club in Manchester where I will fight for a place. I'll still train with the best players in the world and constantly evolve.

"The talks were concluded on time but I don't know if they had time to submit the papers. There is much to be done which is out of my hands. I just sign pieces of paper and play football.

"It's sad, of course, but sometimes there is nothing you can do. I feel in great shape as it's been great to get a long preseason with City. But I miss getting to play games; it's what I live for.

"I love playing football and I will continue to do so and, if I have to wait another six months to do it, so be it. I cannot just give up so if it is six months I'll just accept it."

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