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EVEN the sun had the decency to shine in glorious Italian style as Paulo di Canio, Celtic's #1m buy from AC Milan, made his first official appearance at Parkhead before beginning his four-year stint in Glasgow.

Hundreds of fans turned out to offer their own East-end version of bienvenuto to the new man, one of whose first tasks was to dismiss any comparison with Jimmy Johnstone.

Speaking through an interpreter (``I apologise, I will learn better English soon''), the 27-year-old confessed that, as a boy, he had got to know of the great Celtic team, and its famous players, especially Johnstone.

Asked if he was like him, however, he replied: ``Only in the position I play.''

Celtic manager Tommy Burns also wanted to quash comparisons. ``Paulo is a different type of player altogether. He is more of a team player, although he does like to take on people. Jimmy was a one-off.''

The Parkhead manager said that the signing of di Canio, allied to the capture of Alan Stubbs for #3m from Bolton, completed the club's transfer business for this close season.

``I think these signings show that we are not standing still. I would also like to make the point that people might find it astonishing that we have signed a player from AC Milan and that Rangers tried to get Vialli. Both clubs ought to get credit for going for these players.

``I think it shows how much we have progressed, and under the Bosman ruling, more of this kind of thing will happen all over.''

Di Canio revealed that he had refused offers from two English clubs before saying yes to Celtic. ``They were not as big as Celtic.''

Burns had hoped the visit to Parkhead to see the facilities would help to clinch the deal for the player, one of the few who has come out of Italy in his prime, adding: ``I hope he will realise soon that he has come to just as big a club as the one he left.''

Certainly, Paolo seemed impressed. ``I played for Napoli, Juventus, and Milan at the highest level in Italy but I left Milan on very good terms. This is an exciting move for me, to try a new experience, going from a big club to another big club.''

Burns conceded that he had begun his move for the Italian more in hope than confidence and at one time thought he might have missed out when injuries to key Milan players meant that they changed their mind about letting di Canio go. ``The biggest problem for us and I would think Rangers, too, is getting players to come here to see what we have to offer.''

With di Canio signed for four years and Stubbs for five, Celtic are setting up their own defence against the other side of the Bosman scenario, when their players can head for greener fields free gratis.

And despite noises coming from Portugal that Jorge Cadete has an unwritten agreement that he can leave for #400,000 any time, Burns made it clear that the Portuguese striker has a ``watertight'' three-year deal at Parkhead.

He also indicated that he is very close to concluding a new contract with Brian McLaughlin, who is one of a declining number of top team men whose natural language is English.