Exclusive interview: Bobo Balde offers some advice to Celtic’s new man mountain Christopher Jullien

Bobo Balde has told Celtic’s new £7-million defender, Christopher Jullien, that he will love playing in front of the Parkhead supporters.

The Frenchman has moved from Toulouse, and is the second-most-expensive buy in the club’s history.

Tall, quick and powerful, Jullien has already been likened to Balde, who also arrived at Celts from the Ligue One outfit when Martin O’Neill signed him in 2001 on a Bosman.

Balde went on to help the club to five leagu titles and the UEFA Cup Final in 2003. His no-nonsense approach and solid defending made him a cult figure with the Hoops fans.

Balde would love to see the same adulation afforded to Jullien and told The Sunday Post: “Christopher had been linked with Celtic for a while, and that’s when I started to follow his progress and ask other people in football about him.

“I’m told he has similar qualities to when I played the game, and that’s nice to hear.

“He is very tall and has a wonderful physique. I don’t think strikers are going to enjoy playing against him.

“But he also has elegance and is very comfortable with the ball when he is possession.

“I have not spoken to Christopher about the move, but I would gladly do so if he wants to have a nice conversation.

“I would simply tell him to enjoy the moment of being with a massive football club such as Celtic. Enjoy the wonderful supporters and cherish the feelings they give you.

“There is nothing more enjoyable than hearing almost 60,000 Celtic supporters singing your name, and them believing in your ability to help the team.

“The way to do that is to give 100% in every game. That must always be the starting point, the absolute minimum, for any Celtic player.

“Once you are familiar with your surroundings and your team-mates, then the natural ability starts to flow.

“I hope this is the start of a beautiful relationship between Celtic and Christopher.

“Of course, he has been brought to Celtic to help continue the success of the past decade or so. Indeed, the club has been dominant for most of the past 20 years.

“Nobody needs to be told the importance of this campaign, and it’s all about trying to win another Championship.

“I have been a League champion with Celtic and it brings enormous satisfaction.

“To do it for nine-in-a-row would be quite incredible, I would imagine. It is writing another massive thing into their history books.

“The history of Celtic is very special and it’s always nice to keep adding bits to it.”

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Balde is also delighted to see his former Hoops team-mate, Neil Lennon, back in charge on a permanent basis.

He smiled: “Some people have a nice fit with certain things, and there is a natural feeling between Celtic and Neil.

“I shared a dressing room with him for five seasons. He was a passionate professional and a talented midfielder.

“He knows what it takes to bring success to Celtic and I believe he will do what is required to win the League this season.

“I am quite excited for him and everyone at the football club.

“I will come over for a couple of games in the new season. I have a feeling there will be celebrations.

“But they must not take anything for granted. And that is the message Neil will always tell the players.

“Rangers will be harder than ever to beat. Their determination to stop Celtic will be as much as Celtic’s determination to succeed.

“That’s why Scottish football is such a good product, and people will not be able to take a moment away from the action in the next 10 months.

“Scottish football should celebrate its positives.”

Apart from the success at Celtic on the park, Balde has also been impressed with the business side of the club.

He said: “Celtic is very well structured as a football club.

“Off the park, the business side of things is excellent.

“Everyone at boardroom level has worked very hard over the years to put lots of good things in place.

“You only have to look at the value in the transfer market of some of their players in recent years to know they have their business model in a very good place.

“Kieran Tierney may well be the next player to leave, and if he does go then it looks like Celtic will get more than £20m for him, whether it’s from Arsenal or Napoli or any other club.

“That kind of move has happened a few times for Celtic, from Victor Wanyama to Moussa Dembele.

“Maybe that was also part of the attraction for Christopher.

“It would be another excellent piece of business if the player helps the club win trophies in the next two years, improves himself as a player under the coaching staff, and is then sold on for a much higher transfer fee.

“But that kind of thing is a long way off at the moment.

“It is about the immediate priorities and everyone knows what they are in the coming year.”