Saturday 23 August 2014 12:25, UK
Georgios Samaras is delighted to have been offered a second shot at the Premier League by West Bromwich Albion.
The Greece international striker spent two seasons with Manchester City before linking up with Celtic on an initial loan agreement in January 2008.
Six-and-a-half productive years at Parkhead followed, with Samaras establishing himself as a firm fans’ favourite.
He has, however, decided to make a fresh start at the end of his contract in Glasgow, with West Brom returning him to English football.
I had seven beautiful seasons at Celtic and I’ll keep all those good things. Now it’s a challenge in my career and I’m looking forward to it.
Samaras is looking forward to the challenge, with the 29-year-old of the opinion that he heads to The Hawthorns a better player than the one that left the Etihad Stadium.
He said: “I had seven beautiful seasons at Celtic and I’ll keep all those good things. Now it’s a challenge in my career and I’m looking forward to it.
“As a professional footballer, you want to get better and better and I believe I have changed from 22 to now, like anybody would in any job.
“I’m more mature now and know football better than when I was younger.”
He added: “I want to help this team do well in the Premier League. It is the best league in the world and I’m really proud of myself to be here.
“I’ll try, with my team-mates, to be competitive against the best – and do our best. Hopefully everyone will have a good season.
“I feel really good and the people around the club are kind and I feel like it is a family club. It was an easy decision for me to come here.
“In the end, I believe this is a new challenge in my career and I’m ready to take it.”
