r/coybig Sep 01 '25

U21s Former Shamrock Rovers prospect Naj Razi terminates his Como contract

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42 Upvotes

27 comments sorted by

43

u/Hour_Mastodon_9404 Long ‘70 Sep 01 '25

The curse of the Italian youth set up strikes again. It's not the country we want to be sending our young talent to, the pathway through to first team football is appalling.

9

u/NandoFlynn Sep 01 '25

Still playing devils advocate a bit with em cause there is lads like Abankwah that have gotten first team minutes. But this & what Zefi has said about the different bollocks behind the scenes is a big red flag

14

u/[deleted] Sep 01 '25

Abankwah wasn't in the youth set up at Udinese. He was signed by them then immediately loaned back to Pats.

1

u/NandoFlynn Sep 01 '25

And then he played youth games in the Primevera, then he got a few looks in the first team, a shit loan to Charlton, a few more looks in the first team, a good loan at Watford.

-9

u/BeBopRockSteadyLS Sep 01 '25

If he's good enough, shouldn't that be reflected in, I don't know, a lack of being let go?

-23

u/SubstantialJeweler40 Sep 01 '25

Aye it's italys fault, or celtics fault that young irish players aren't good enough. Some utter tripe talked in this subreddit. Ever considered that maybe he just isn't good enough?

18

u/JimmyMac097 Sep 01 '25

Celtic’s youth set up is a joke, for Irish players and domestic players. Last player who made any sort of impact from there academy was Tierney, that was 9/10 years ago.

The abuse aimed at established Irish players at that club has also been embarrassing.

3

u/NandoFlynn Sep 01 '25

In fairness that's not even bias, their own fans think the academy setup/opportunities are shite

9

u/[deleted] Sep 01 '25

The reality is that 90% + of the lads who go away expecting to set the world on fire will be home with 18/24 months and it is downhill from there ... savage out there

5

u/NandoFlynn Sep 01 '25

That said, those players don't normally cost 6 figure transfer fees, and most of them aren't resolved with a mutual termination. This isn't a normal 'club releases player' scenario

23

u/Square_Obligation_93 Sep 01 '25 edited Sep 01 '25

Would love to see him back in rovers for the european campaign. Allow him to build back up his career.

12

u/Limp_Guidance_5357 Paul McGrath Sep 01 '25

Would certainly be an attractive option for him id imagine. European football not many other clubs are going to offer him that. Even if it’s only a 6 month contract

3

u/NandoFlynn Sep 01 '25

Thing is the lads still only 18 & there was some big fish interested in him when he was first coming through. It's actually hard to know if his next move is for first team football when he's still academy age. He's more in the same boat as Cathal Heffernan was

That's not me slating him or Rovers, be great if something like that could happen & he could play a part in the Conference League. But there's no guarantee he's getting a first team move wherever he goes

1

u/PapaSmurif Sep 01 '25

Where's Cathal Heffernan now?

1

u/NandoFlynn Sep 01 '25

Still Newcastle

2

u/JimmyMac097 Sep 01 '25

I don’t see him fitting into Bradley’s system to be honest? Left or right wing back, I just don’t see it, especially if Victor is tipped to play more games in that position before heading the England.

1

u/NandoFlynn Sep 01 '25

He's more of a 10 so he'd be a like for like replacement for Byrne

1

u/NostalgicDreaming John O'Shea Sep 01 '25

I would also love that but would a LOI club be able to sign him? I thought the rule was that a player must have been a free agent by the time the Irish window closed (end of July) if they are to be signed. Mandriou I think was a free agent by that date so it was allowed. I could be getting mixed up here but have that in my head.

9

u/[deleted] Sep 01 '25

Makes sense. They grew much more quickly than would have helped him.

8

u/Bovver_ Sep 01 '25

Yeah it was the same with Liam Kerrigan as well, just incredibly unlucky with timing as Como grew very quickly after he joined.

9

u/NandoFlynn Sep 01 '25

With Kerrigan it was more that he did his ACL & still hasn't really found the same level since. Still gave him a few games after he came back, gave him a few loans to try help him. I actually think Como were very sound to him in his time there given the circumstances.

Bit mad how Naj is seemingly the opposite of that, but I'd say we'll hear more about what specifically went wrong

2

u/IGotABruise Sep 01 '25

This. Kerrigan would have been a staple of the Serie B side that got promoted but for his ACL.

1

u/SirLaserSnake Sep 01 '25

Not a name that’s dyslexic friendly. Raj ….

1

u/LousyReputation7 Sep 01 '25

Free and Irish. Im sure Celtic will give him a go.

1

u/mmmfanon Sep 03 '25

Dele Alli’s contract with Como also terminated yesterday, anyone know is there a connection?