Rocco Vata was spotted at Celtic Park on Saturday as Celtic beat Hibernian 3-1 in the Scottish Premiership. The 20-year-old winger left Celtic last summer to join Watford in the English Championship. Celtic got a training fee because they developed him through their academy.
Vata left the club to get more regular first-team football. He’s had a strong first season at Watford, playing 37 games and scoring four goals. He has become a regular part of their squad, and the move seems to have worked out for him.
Even though he now plays in England, Vata returned to Glasgow to watch his former club secure a big win. Celtic were in control for much of the game. Nicolás Kühn scored the equaliser to make it 1-1, and Adam Idah put Celtic ahead 2-1 just before halftime. Reo Hatate added a third in the second half to seal the victory.
Fans noticed Vata in the crowd and wondered if it meant anything more. Right now, there is no sign that he will return to Celtic, but the fact he was there shows he still has an interest in the club.
Vata came through the youth ranks at Celtic and made a few first-team appearances before deciding to move on. While some supporters were disappointed to see him go, many understand he wanted more minutes on the pitch.
For now, Vata is focused on his career in England, but his visit shows that Celtic still means something to him, with his father, Rudi, having played for the Hoops from 1993 until 1996. Whether he ever pulls on the Hoops again is unknown, but it’s clear he hasn’t forgotten where he came from.
