Celtic youngster Rocco Vata 'wants to move'. 

That's according to his dad Rudi, who played for the Hoops in the 1990s.

The 18-year-old scored during Celtic's 5-0 rout over Highland League minnows Buckie Thistle on Sunday.

His exposure in the first team has been limited since making his debut under Ange Postecoglou last season.

The attacker has a number of clubs interested in his services, with his current contract due to expire at the end of the season. A host of Italian sides, including Como, Bologna and Atalanta are among those who are keen.

Vata appeared on Off The Ball as he addressed his son's future. And it was here that he revealed his son was keen to make a move.

He said: "He was born in Scotland, he's been at the club since he was seven years old. His feelings are different, obviously, my feelings at his age were different.

"I had no freedom to think that 'One day I could become a Celtic player,' in my country, where I was born, at Rocco's stage, that was not possible. It was illegal to think like that.

"The maximum you could think was to go play for the national team. That was my dream. Rocco can dream to play for Barcelona or Real Madrid, nobody can stop him. 

"He's 18 still, he's not mentally ready to move to another country. He wants to move but I don't think he's got it. I don't think he's ready.

"For me, it's good that I understand his emotions even when he's not happy. There will be times when he's not going to be happy with the manager or the coaches. All he can do is continue to work."

However, to confuse matters, later in the interview the Albanian appeared to change his stance, stating that his son indeed wants to play for Celtic, as he backed him to earn more game time.

He continued: "I think he wants to be with Celtic, and I think it's right for him to be at Celtic to get more game time. 

"If he gets that game time, I think he will produce what he's capable of producing. He's improved a lot, all he needs to do now is get that opportunity."

Brendan Rodgers addressed his future following the youngster's appearance in the Scottish Cup. 

When asked if he hopes Vata will commit his future to the club, Rodgers said: “Yeah, but listen, that will be up to him.

“He is a talent and it depends what the mentality is with him and his representatives.  “You get some young players whose representatives will tell you that if he’s not playing in the first team starting then they don’t want to stay. If that’s the case, you’d better go then because you’ve got to earn the right.

“He is 18 and I don’t need players ready at 18 unless they are real, real special talents. At 20 or 21 they need to be ready. But you can see he has tools, and this can be a really good place for him to develop.

“It was nice for him to get his goal because that’s a good feeling and he has been here a long time as a young player and he has strengths we could develop.

“I believe [he has a contract offer]. There have been chats around that. My focus is purely on the playing aspect, but there will be something there for him I’m sure.

“Young players have to earn the right and the likes of Rocco there has been a lot of noise around him, but he is a very young player and he has to earn the opportunity. I’ve given many young players an opportunity in my career."