Brazilian club confirm transfer talks with Celtic striker

Valdir Barbosa, the sporting director of Brazilian club Coritiba, has confirmed that his side has held talks with Celtic striker Colin Kazim-Richards.

This follows the news that strikers Carlton Cole and Stefan Scepovic will also depart the club in the coming weeks.

The 29-year-old only joined Celtic in the winter transfer window and signed a two-and-a-half year deal at the club, but hardly made an impact, scoring just two goals.

Barbosa also confirmed that they didn’t so much go after the player, but they were offered him, which suggests that new manager Brendan Rodgers is looking to move him on.

Speaking to Radio Transamerica Curitiba, and as reported by STV, Barbosa said:

We conducted an interview with Colin Kazim-Richards. He will be in Coritiba on Tuesday and his Brazilian wife wants him to wear the uniform here. We held a meeting with Alex about the player.

We were offered him. I spoke with him and also clubs where he played in Turkey, the Netherlands and Scotland. I am sure he might be a surprise in Brazilian football.

It won’t come as a shock to fans to see that the Turkish forward is expected to leave the club as he’s not shown enough in his short spell to suggest that he is a viable long-term option for Rodgers.

Richards’ wife is from Brazil, which seems to be why he favours a move there over other potential options across Europe.