FORMER Celtic star Ramon Vega has admitted his biggest career mistake was snubbing the chance to stay at Parkhead.

The Swiss international moved to Celtic on loan from Spurs in December 2000.

And he was part of the team that swept to a Treble under manager Martin O'Neill.

Vega proved to be an instant hit with the Celtic fans when he scored twice on his debut in a 6-0 demolition of Aberdeen.

But at the end of the season, he turned down the offer of a permanent switch to Scotland to head back to London to join Watford.

The former centre-half told News.Bwin: “I regret not staying longer at Celtic Park.

“Although I was only on loan, I rate my time at Celtic as one of the most enjoyable spells in my career.

“I can imagine they get fed up with hearing this, but the Celtic fans are without doubt the best I’ve ever played in front of. Every time I played and they announced the attendance at Celtic Park I was surprised.

“It would say something like 50,000 or 60,000 and I was convinced it was more like 200,000.

“People talk about a wall of noise at other stadiums, but I’ve experienced nothing like the roar I head at Celtic.

“It’s one of the few regrets I have in my playing career that I didn’t stay longer at Celtic.

“Tottenham released me and Celtic offered me a short-term contract, but Watford offered me three years.

“At that stage of my career, the extra years and security were very appealing so I joined up with Gianluca Vialli instead. I would have loved to have finished up at Celtic.”

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