Celtic found an unexpected ally last night, and Ibrox fans are not happy about it.

Scottish football never fails to surprise me, and last night delivered a real shock with comments from Christian Nerlinger, agent to Celtic star Nicolas Kühn.

For weeks, the media has been speculating about the possibility of Kühn being sold in January. Yet, there’s been no indication from the player that he’s unsettled. No transfer request, no whispers of discontent. The rumours feel like baseless chatter, much of it originating in England and eagerly amplified by a press here desperate to see the back of him.

The player’s quality clearly unsettles some. A couple of weeks ago, Nerlinger became a topic of discussion on Ibrox fan forums, where some supporters were questioning why, as a former Rangers player, he didn’t offer Kühn to them first. This, of course, betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of how modern football scouting works.

Celtic didn’t stumble across Nicolas Kühn by accident. We scouted him extensively, used the data at our disposal, and decided he was worth pursuing. Nerlinger’s role was to secure the best deal for his client, and he clearly recognised that Celtic, under a progressive and ambitious manager, was the ideal destination.

That’s the crux of it. Agents don’t peddle their clients to clubs for sentimental reasons—they look for the right fit. Nerlinger would have known Celtic’s reputation for developing talent and providing a springboard to bigger leagues. No need to alert his old club when he was confident Parkhead was the perfect environment for Kühn to flourish.

Still, the Ibrox forums painted this as some kind of betrayal, with a palpable bitterness that Celtic secured such a talent while the NewCo splurged on Oscar Cortes—an injured winger who’s spent more time in the treatment room than on the pitch. To them, it’s a double blow: they missed out on Kühn and feel Nerlinger, one of their own, failed to give them a heads-up.

This simmering resentment will only deepen after Nerlinger’s comments last night. His remarks were a glowing endorsement of Celtic and Kühn’s place within the club. “The speculation is not an issue for us. We have found a home for Nicolas at Celtic,” he said. That’s a remarkable statement from a former Rangers player.

Even more striking was what followed: “We are not, never, walking out on Celtic without being together with the club because this success story was created by Celtic.”

That phrase, “not, never, walking out on Celtic,” has landed like a lead weight across the city. It’s a refreshing stance from an agent who clearly values his player’s happiness and recognises the role Celtic have played in his development. Far from chasing a quick payday, Nerlinger seems focused on ensuring that Kühn continues to thrive in an environment where he feels settled.

The sentiment of “finding a home” for Kühn is a powerful one.

This is a player who has moved between clubs in his career, and it’s clear he values stability. The fact that he already feels this way about Celtic is fantastic news, both for him and the club. It bodes well for future contract negotiations and reinforces the sense that Celtic Park is the perfect place for players to grow and succeed.

What makes Nerlinger’s comments even more fascinating is how starkly they contrast with the nonsense coming out of Ibrox about “Real Ranjurs Men” and their so-called plan to rebuild the club’s identity. Nerlinger, a former Rangers player, clearly hasn’t bought into any of that sentimental claptrap. His focus is on professionalism, not tribalism—a perspective that Celtic fans will undoubtedly appreciate.

It’s a reminder that most former players, regardless of which shirt they’ve worn, don’t get overly invested in the emotional baggage of these rivalries.

They see the game as professionals. While Nils Koppen is busy looking backward and clinging to ideas of “teaching the club’s values,” Celtic continues to look forward, building a modern, successful footballing operation.

If Nils Koppen is seriously considering filling Ibrox with “Real Ranjurs Men,” you can bet Nerlinger won’t be on the list. And why would he? He’s already shown where his priorities lie—finding the best fit for his client and supporting a club that knows how to develop talent.

Nerlinger’s words are a testament to what Celtic represents right now: a united, ambitious, and forward-thinking club where players can thrive. It’s no wonder Nicolas Kühn sees it as home.