FOR Anita Marcos, moving to a new club and a new country is a big challenge, but having swapped Atletico Madrid for a loan spell with Celtic, she’s relishing the season ahead.

And she believes that having two fellow Spaniards at the club will help her adjust to life both on and off the park. One of her new team-mates is Brenda Lopez Castellano, the 27-year-old midfielder having joined from CD Femarguin in Gran Canaria, while her Head Coach is Fran Alonso.

For 19-year-old Anita, she’s hoping the move to Celtic will also prove beneficial to her command of English, which is already very impressive.

Speaking to the official Celtic website, the Spanish striker said: “I spoke to Fran who told me he wanted me to come to Celtic, and when he told me that, I was very pleased because I want to play and I want to be happy here.

“My last game with Atletico was very emotional because I’ve been there for a few years. My team-mates there were great and I was very happy, but I had to take this decision and now I’m at Celtic, I’m here to work hard and do my best for this team.

“I’ve always stayed at home with my family and friends, but I took this decision to come to Celtic because I want to grow and I want to win things with this club.

“Fran and Brenda are going to help me in all things, and it’s important in another country to have people who know your culture so, for me, it’s very nice.”

For Head Coach Fran Alonso, the signing of a player he says has the best CV in Europe as a 19-year-old is a real coup for Celtic. And he paid tribute to Atletico Madrid for helping to make the move a reality.

“I knew Anita from games, but I didn’t know how she trained, how she interacted with team-mates, and the feedback I got was excellent,” said the Spanish coach. “She’s a very hard worker, great with all her team-mates and has a lot of enthusiasm, desire and passion. That’s exactly what I’m about and that’s what I love in players.

“I cannot thank Atletico Madrid enough for trusting us with bringing one of their most talented young players over here. They know that she’s going to be one of their top players in the future, so for them to trust us to help in her development is something that makes me very proud.

We’ve had great help from Lola Romero at Atletico Madrid, and the club were very supportive, and we got a deal done that I think is going to be amazing for us.

“At the end of the day, we all want what’s best for Anita, and also what is the best for Celtic.”

And the Celtic coach believes that the young striker is coming into a squad that is full of top-class talent, as well as one that has created a welcoming environment.

He said: “If you see Brenda Castellano, who has signed for the club, and who can’t speak a lot of English, you’ve got players telling her things in Spanish and really helping her to settle in, so it’s a very supportive group and a very welcoming group, and I’m very proud.

“I told the players that the reason they’re here in the first place is that they’re good people. Of course, you have to be a good player to play for Celtic but be the best people first.

“They are great girls and very welcoming. Of course, they’re competing for positions in the team but they understand that this is what will make Celtic great, and they are very supportive. Brenda is settling in very well, and I’m sure it will be the same with Anita.”

Anita Marcos: Paradise is the perfect place for me