Luis Palma rocky road to Celtic revealed after 40 bouts of £217k rejection saw La Liga clubs MISS OUT on 'jewel'

Luis Palma is beginning to show his Celtic potential - but it wasn't long ago his services were far from in-demand.

The Honduran international has had to do things the hard way to prove his worth in the game, as he prepares for a Champions League tussle with Atletico Madrid tonight. VAR denied him his first goal in the competition against Lazio but his sweet effort last time out against the La Liga side counted in a 2-2 draw.

According to Marca, his agent discovered the 23-year-old at the U17s World Cup, and swiftly moved him on loan to the USA with Real Monarchs from boyhood club Vida. An option to buy came with that deal but it wasn't activated, sparking representatives into a dash to get him on a bigger platform. And the Spanish outlet suggest that 40 clubs had their doors knocked on over whether Palma would be a fit for them.

"Practically all the franchises in the United States League (MLS)" were asked as per the report. Then there were enquiries in Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Mexico and elsewhere. However, "Only Aris among the 40 clubs in the world to which he was offered 20 months ago saw his potential."

Palma was being offered for "barely" €250k (£217k). With the exceptions of the heavy hitters, the Celtic winger was put to "the subsidiaries of almost all of La Liga", with Levante - now in La Liga 2 - considering a move before saying no. Marca hail him "the jewel that now dazzles in Scotland."

Aris stepped forward and have been rewarded handsomely for their punt. A reported figure of £3.5m is what Celtic are believed to have paid the Greek side for Palma and Hoops supporters have had growing signs of his potential through five goals and four assists.