Celtic's McGeady 'likely to snub Spartak' - Vata

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McGeady has been a target for Birmingham manager Alex McLeish


Aiden McGeady is likely to end up in English football despite Spartak Moscow offering to make him a millionaire, according to football agent Rudi Vata.

Vata thinks the Celtic winger would make up to £2m after tax if the Russian club were successful with a reported £8.3m bid for the 24-year-old.



"I don't think he will go," said Vata. "If he has one or two options down south then I think he will go there.



"It is not easy to make new friends and you travel long journeys to games."



Vata specialises in the Eastern European market and was involved in the deals that led former Hibernian striker Garry O'Connor to join Lokomotiv Moscow then move back to the UK with Birmingham City.



"Moscow is a beautiful city, a great city, but it takes a strong personality, someone with a strong mentality to survive over there," said the former Celtic defender.




Republic of Ireland international McGeady, who signed a five-year deal in 2008, has been a long-time target of Alex McLeish ever since the Birmingham manager moved from Celtic's city rivals, Rangers.



"He will get anything between £1.5m to £2m net in Russia, I can guarantee that," said Vata.
"He will be able to make much more money than he would get at, say, Birmingham or any team at that level in the Premier League."



O'Connor joined Lokomotiv in February 2006 for £1.5m but left for Birmingham for £2.7m just 16 months later after struggling with life in Russia.



However, Vata said of McGeady: "If he stays two years, he will be stronger physically and mentally."



Reports suggest that Celtic have told Spartak they would have to offer around £12m for McGeady, but the agent believes the Russians are showing sound business sense even if they increase their offer.



"They will think that they can then sell him to a Premier League club for £15m," he said. "They have done that in the past.



"They know what they are doing. They know they will get the fee back.



"I know the mentality of the Russians, I have a lot of contacts over there.
"They rarely buy star players over 25 or 26. They look to bring players who are around 25 or younger and then sell them on.



"If you have a star player in countries like Belgium or France - or Scotland - who is an international then that will attract the Russian clubs and McGeady fits in to that category."
 
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