Luis Palma’s rise to stardom at Celtic has been a quick transition for the 23-year-old Celtic winger.
The £3.5m buy from Aris took a wee bit of time to settle into a rhythm but now, he is firing on all cylinders for Brendan Rodgers and is now a regular in the Honduran national team.
But it wasn’t always as rosy for Palma on the international front. Omitted from the Honduran squad for the 2023 Gold Cup, reports from his homeland suggested that he was dropped was ‘due to a controversy with former coach Diego Vázquez’. [Diario Mas]
And Vazquez has spoken out about the ‘controversy’ for the first time in the Honduran media.
Vazquez said [La Prensa], “Very well, he’s a guy who is a very good footballer, at the time I said that it wasn’t because of that issue that we didn’t take him to the Gold Cup, he knows why, we both know and that’s it.
“From my side, it is a subject to educate, disciplinary and I always wish him the best so that he continues to grow.
“I didn’t have any problems, I didn’t have any problems, there are rules that he has to follow and well, I don’t regret anything, I always wish him the best and that he continues to improve and continue to contribute his talent to the National Team.”
Luis Palma’s take on being dropped by Honduras
The Celtic winger has spoken previously about this matter but, like Vazquez, didn’t really divulge any information and seems to want to put the episode behind him.
Palma said [Glasgow Times], “Very different and a pleasant topic, really. It is a very experienced coaching staff and we are going to work and learn many of them.
“I never walked away from the national team, I am the person who will never say no to the national team. Previously, it was due to technical decisions, I have to respect, but now I am in a new process.”
And he is. Impressing his national media with his performances for his country of late, Palma is enjoying being the flavour of the month right now.
Coupled with his great form for Celtic, the youngster certainly seems to have a bright future in the game and will just get better and better with experience.
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