The Celtic interview that soured Gordon Strachan relations and how Shevchenko became transfer fixer - Massimo Donati Big Interview

It's fair to say that Massimo Donati came to Celtic with something of a footballing pedigree.

It was Celtic manager Gordon Strachan who shelled out £3million for the Italian midfielder's services in June 2007.

Donati penned a four-year deal with the Hoops and was handed the coveted Number 18 shirt previously owned by former club captain Neil Lennon.

Some six years before Donati had cost AC Milan £10million when he signed from Atalanta in 2001.

His career had stalled at the San Siro though and it was beset by a series of five loan spells - Parma, Torino, Sampdoria, Messina and back to Atalanta.

Donati had been a promising youth international, representing Italy at under-16, under-18, under-20 and under-21 levels.

He once held the record for the number of Italian under-21 caps at 26.

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The player readily admits that he had no idea that he was leaving one European football giant for another.

And he was sold on the move by none other than AC Milan legend Shevchenko.

Donati said: "Andriy Shevchenko was involved in my transfer from AC Milan to Celtic.

"I received a phone call from a private number and my wife answered. I switched off the call but she told me it could be important as it was the summer of 2007 and I did not know what was happening with my contract at AC Milan.

"Thankfully after two minutes, the phone rang again. It was Andriy and he told me to listen and he asked me if I would like to go and play for Celtic.

"I said yes I would like that very much and from that phone call the ball started rolling and I ended up joining.

"The memories of playing for Celtic are still alive in my head and in my heart. It's is a wonderful football club and a fantastic time in my career.

"I signed from AC Milan as I was out on loan to other clubs most of the time I was at San Siro. The opportunity arose to sign for Celtic and I knew they were in the Champions League so that was great for me.

"I didn't realise how big it was. I knew they were big...but not that big! It is an incredible football club.

"When I arrived in Glasgow, I did not speak English but after a couple of months I spoke to a few people and I soon realised that Celtic was a massive football club not just in Scotland but in Europe and also around the world.

"I wasn't aware that Celtic have fans everywhere. We had our pre-season in America and there were thousands of fans over there and it took me by total surprise.

"I realised then that Celtic was a big deal. It was a great shock to me. In Italy, you know Celtic are big but it is only when you play for the club you realise that it is huge."

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The Italian revealed that he loved life initially under Gordon Strachan at Celtic Park as he helped Celtic lift the Scottish Premier League title and League Cup in his first season.

Donati hit his stride early at Celtic Park and his neat passing allied to his vision saw him make a good impression on the Celtic supporters.

His Parkhead career then took off when he netted the equalising goal against Aberdeen on August 19th as Celtic came from behind to win 3-1.

That was nothing compared to what was to follow.

Donati scored a dramatic late winning goal against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League tie at Celtic Park in November which put Gordon Strachan's Hoops on the verge of the last 16 of the tournament.

His goal sparked wild celebrations as he enjoyed a career-high.

The Italian even threw his shirt into the crowd at full-time such was his joy as the Celtic fans treated him to his very own version of: "Mo, Mo Massimo, Massimo Donati!"

He said: "Gordon Strachan was a very good manager. He was a typical and proper Scottish man. He was very nice to me when I arrived and I have never forgotten that.

"Even when I was on the bench at Celtic, Gordon would come to me and speak to me and explain his decision. We enjoyed a very good relationship.

"The first season was magical at Celtic as we won both the Scottish Premiership title and the League Cup. They are the only trophies I won in my career and I treasure the medals.

"I won the Serie B in Italy but that is not a real trophy as we only got promoted. I class the trophies that I won at Celtic as real prizes and nobody can take them away from me.

"I scored my first goal against Aberdeen at Celtic Park and the fans really took to me after that. It was not my job in my career to score goals as I was more of a defensive midfielder but sometimes I got on the scoresheet.

"It is always something special for a player who is not renowned for scoring goals to do that. I will always remember that night against Shakhtar because it was the best of my career.

"It was a real highlight and a most magnificent moment for me. I sometimes watch it back on YouTube as that goal is always in my heart and in my mind.

"It is the same way I feel about Celtic as they are always in my heart and mind. It was such a good moment.

"The actual goal against Shakhtar Donetsk was not wonderful itself but it was very important. It was the last seconds and the stadium was full and it was a great result for the team.

"I remember the Celtic supporters singing and chanting the 'Mo, Mo Massimo' song and it was fantastic to hear."

Ironically Donati's last act and kick of the ball as a Celtic player was to score a consolation goal against Arsenal in the Champions League qualifiers at the Emirates Arena as then manager Tony Mowbray's side bowed out on a 5-1 aggregate.

Donati said: "Scoring against Arsenal should have been special but it was not great as were 2-0 down from the first leg at Celtic Park and then 3-0 down in the Emirates.

"We lost 5-1 over two legs. That was my last ever touch of the ball for Celtic as within the next couple of days I had left the club and joined Bari.

"My last kick of the ball for Celtic was a goal. It was nice as I scored in front of the Celtic supporters who had made the journey to London to cheer the team on.

"We were out of the Champions League yet the supporters went crazy for that goal which was nice for me.

"I felt it was a fitting send-off and a great way for me to leave the club. I enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the Celtic fans and I still do to this day."

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Donati also savoured the highs of playing in the Old Firm but he admits that the external factors of religion in derby games is a subject matter that he found hard to comprehend.

"The Celtic vs Rangers matches are incredible because of the passion that both sides have got," he said. "I played derbies in Italy as well. In Glasgow, there is a religion that splits the two teams down the middle and it is a different view of life in general.

"If you are not Scottish, you don't feel that problem. It was not a real problem for me as it ​was just a very important game

"I am a Catholic, but when I am on the pitch, I am just a footballer - nothing else. I just tried to win the game. The atmosphere in the derbies is incredible and it is nice to play in that situation.

"I would much prefer if religion never came into it. It is just football, nothing else, it stops there."

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Donati also experienced the amazing high of a Champions League victory over his boyhood idols AC Milan.

It was the Rossoneri that sold Donati to Celtic and he savoured every moment against the side that his father adored.

In fact, Donati's heroes growing up were none other than Dutch triumvirate Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard.

He said: "When I was a kid my father was a big AC Milan fan so that meant I had to be an AC Milan supporter too! There was no choice about what team to support.

"In the late 1980s and early 1990s, AC Milan won all the major trophies. They had such a good team with Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten and Frank Rijkaard tearing up Serie A.

"My hero was Frank Rijkaard and I was a midfielder and I wanted to try to be like him. I wasn't like him but I became a football player and I tried to at least emulate him.

"It was a good feeling to beat AC Milan when I played for Celtic. It was revenge for me as they had sold me a couple of months before that game. I was not angry but I wanted to beat them so badly and show them and I was happy that we managed to do that with Celtic.

"That AC Milan contained Kaka, Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf and Filippo Inzaghi and nobody believed Celtic could beat them but we did it. Scott McDonald scored a last-minute goal and it was bedlam at Celtic Park.

"I had a lot of friends come over from Italy to watch and it was absolutely brilliant after that game. I enjoyed that moment and those celebrations."

However, Donati's relationship with Strachan soured in the second season when he gave an interview detailing the difference between Scottish and Italian football.

Donati said: "I had a wee problem with Gordon and then it became a big problem. I gave an interview explaining the difference between Scottish and Italian football. I explained the difference which was a big one.

"In the papers, the headline was 'What Scottish football has to do to be better'.

"I never said those words and he was so angry about that interview and I told him I didn't say that but he didn't believe me and that is why I did not play much in the second season.

"For a football player, if you are not playing you are not happy. I told him that maybe it was time for me to go.

"In the pre-season, he left Celtic and Tony Mowbray came in. For a while, it looked as if my Celtic career would get back on track. Bari then came in for me and offered me a longer contract. I had a decision to make and I joined Bari.

"Sometimes you make the wrong decision. Leaving Celtic was not a good decision."

It's far to say that Celtic get under Donati's skin. So much so that he has a permanent inked reminder on his skin as he has the Celtic crest tattooed on his chest above his heart.

Donati said: "I got the tattoo on my chest and the club got under my skin.

"Celtic are not just a football club. It is a big, nice family and it is a wonderful family to stay in. When you are involved in that family you never forget it. When I came back to Italy after the club sold me Celtic was always in my heart.

"It is always emotional for me whenever I watch them on the TV or I come back to Celtic Park to see them.

"They gave me my finest career memories in football. There is no chance I would swap that experience. Celtic will always be family to me."

The feeling is very much mutual from the Celtic supporters. To the man with the Celtic tattoo - thanks.

Or as they say in Italy... All'uomo con il tatuaggio celtico - Grazie.