Former Ballon d’Or winner hails wonderkid

Internet and Celtic sensation Karamoko Dembele has been praised by former Ballon d’Or winner Ruud Gullit after his substitute appearance on Monday.

The 13-year-old stormed into the headlines after coming off the bench for Celtic’s development squad, replacing another promising young star, Jack Aitchison.

Dembele played the final nine minutes of Celtic’s 3-1 win over Hearts, and has also trained with the first-team squad this season under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers.

Speaking about the young prospect to the Herald Scotland, Gullit said:

Scotland don’t have many great players at the moment but they so have a new 13-year-old, who looks pretty special.

I saw him playing on YouTube. What a player. He is exceptionally good and left-footed as well.

I was also very young too when I made my first team debut. When I was 14, I was playing with the Under-18s so that was quite a jump as well.

The former World player of the year and European Championship winner was impressed by the youngster, who became a YouTube sensation after Monday night’s development game.

YouTube: KARAMOKO DEMBELE | Goals, Skills, Assists | Celtic | 2016 (HD)

Gullit also began his playing career early, making his senior debut for HFC Harlem at just 16-yeas-old, becoming the youngest player a that time to play in the Eredivisie.

Celtic will return to action next weekend in the league against Motherwell, before a crucial clash in the Champions League group stages with German side Borussia Monchengladbach.