Dermot Desmond stuns Celtic fans into thinking 'I’d seen a ghost' as he watches Scottish Cup win from Irish pub in Rome

A Celtic fan had to rub his eyes in disbelief when he was working behind a bar in Italy during their Scottish Cup semi-final – and in walked Dermot Desmond for a drink.

The Hoops battled out a thrilling victory over Aberdeen on Saturday, going all the way to penalties before Joe Hart finally saved Killian Phillips' spot-kick to send them into the final. Tensions were high and one fan watched it all from afar, on the TV during his shift pouring pints in Finnegan's Pub in Rome.

A popular Irish watering hole, there were no shortage of Celtic fans in attendance. But punter Michael certainly wasn't expecting chairman Desmond for company. That's what he got though as he shared his tale, alongside a video of the Parkhead supremo, on A Celtic World Podcast. The disbelieving fan said: "I had a very entertaining time! I was working behind the bar and about 20 minutes before kick-off, I looked over and thought I'd seen a ghost coming up to the bar.

"I looked at this guy and thought, 'that's Dermot Desmond!' I stared at him and he stared back at me. I stared at him again, as if to say 'you look like Dermot Desmond’.

"And he looked back at me as if to say, 'I am Dermot Desmond.' I couldn't f***** believe it. He just walked into the pub to come and watch the football.

"Some people got photographs with him before the match and at half-time. He was sitting up by the bar drinking alcohol-free beer. He was with a lady and some younger guy. I couldn't believe he turned up."