Moussa Dembele may never have pictured himself playing in Scotland, but looking back, the French striker, who now plays in Saudi Arabia, considers his time at Celtic as the highlight of his career. Reflecting on his journey, Dembele credits his top football memories to his years in Glasgow.
**First Glasgow Derby and the Celtic Hat-Trick.
Dembele joined Celtic around the same time Brendan Rodgers first took over as manager. Ahead of his first Glasgow Derby against Rangers, Dembele was behind Leigh Griffiths in the lineup. But when Griffiths was sidelined by injury, Dembele seized the opportunity, scoring a historic hat-trick. This made him the first Celtic player since Harry Hood in the 1970s to score three goals against Rangers in one game, instantly winning the hearts of Celtic fans.
Despite his departure to join Lyon in France under slightly controversial circumstances, Dembele’s love for Celtic has only grown. Moving to Scottish football was unexpected for Dembele, but he has no regrets.
**Reflecting on His Time at Celtic.
“Everything happened quickly, and I had to make a quick decision with my family and friends to ensure it was the best move for my career. Honestly, if you’d asked me before, I’d have said I’d never play in Scotland!” Dembele shared with *Football Scotland*. “But playing for Celtic turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. I loved those two years, and I’m still a huge Celtic fan who follows their every game. If I’d known how incredible it would be, I would’ve signed up without hesitation.”
Dembele counts scoring three goals against Rangers as his most cherished career memory, even above other highlights like his winner for Lyon against St Etienne and his two goals in the Champions League quarterfinals against Manchester City.
For the full story of that unforgettable Invincible season, fans can dive into *Invincible* by Matt Corr, available at Celtic Star Books.
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