Kundai Benyu’s stock continued to rise at the weekend after the highly-rated Zimbabwean starlet turned on the style and convinced Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers into a change of mind about sending the midfield starlet out on loan.
Benyu joined the Scottish champions at the end of last month on a four-year deal.
There had been indications that Celtic would loan out the player, but all that has changed.
According to reports from Scotland, Benyu’s fine performance in Celtic’s pre-season friendly against Lyon on Saturday forced Rodgers to change his mind about loaning out the 19-year-old midfielder.
Celtic lost the friendly 4-0 to the French team, but Rodgers used it as an opportunity to give new arrivals Johnny Hayes, Oliver Ntcham and Benyu game time.
Benyu impressed the most, playing the first 70 minutes of the match and Celtic had not conceded when Benyu was substituted.
“He’s been very good. He’s surprised me to be honest. We knew he was a good player,” Rodgers told The Daily Record.
“You see what we’re trying to build here in terms of players being technically gifted.
“But they have to have good mobility and good physicality. And he has that. He’s played with a nice little edge, he’s competitive. And he’s got a confidence.
“We will see how he develops. Initially the plan was to have him in, thinking he can get an idea of how we work and then go on loan.
“But I’ve sort of changed my mind, really, over the last period of time just watching him. I think it’s going to be good for him to probably come in and have six months in here to see how we train, how we work, get an education in our footballing idea then review in January and see where he is at.
“He’s certainly a boy who can contribute for us.”
A delighted Benyu says that he would rather remain at Parkhead. Getting into the team and staying there will be a big challenge for the youngster, with club captain Scott Brown, £4,25 million signing from Manchester City Ntcham and Liam Henderson likely to start the season ahead of him in the pecking order.
Tom Rogic, Aidan Nesbitt and Joe Thomson are also available to Rodgers as more attacking midfielders, but Benyu is up for the fight.
“Impressing the manager was my main objective. He wasn’t sure if I was going to go on loan, but I’ve come in, worked as hard as I can so I’m happy to stay and fight for my place,” he said.
“I’d much rather be settled in Glasgow with the boys playing every week in the league.
“Given time, working as hard as I can in training and listening to the gaffer and his advice I think I’ll be able to get in the team as much as I can,” Benyu said.
Zimbabwe’s Warriors are also keeping a close eye on Benyu with coach Norman Mapeza having earlier considered him for the 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia last month before complications arose over his documents.
Benyu was born in London to Zimbabwean parents. Former Celtic ace Billy Stark was also impressed.
“He looks to have all the attributes managers look for in modern players. He has that physicality and he is quick as well. I don’t want to go overboard about the lad, but he looked the part.
“I heard Brendan on the radio after Saturday saying he’d changed his mind about sending him out on loan, so he must have made a big impression.
“It was obviously early for the lad as he’d only signed a couple of days previously. It was a very good Celtic side with talented young players who are clearly in the groove. But it was clear he fitted in with them nicely.” The Herald
