Aaron Hickey has refused to close the door on a move to Celtic in the future after revealing the Hoops tried to sign him "a lot" before he moved to Bologna.

The former Hearts full-back departed Tynecastle for Serie A last year after he burst onto the scene as a 17-year-old in the Jambos' first-team under Craig Levein. Hickey was at the centre of a tug-of-war between some of Europe's elite clubs including Manchester City and Bayern Munich.

But after making the trip to see the Allianz Arena and being granted permission to walk onto the pitch to experience what life could be like, he opted to sign for Bologna in Italy in a bid to earn more game time and gain more experience at a top level club.

READ MORE: Aaron Hickey on Steve Clarke Scotland phone call, Euro aspirations and life in Serie A with Bologna

However the defender, 18, has revealed his boyhood heroes Celtic did make attempts to convince him to head to Glasgow instead. Though the level-headed yet ambitious youngster knew the move would not be the right one at this stage in his career.

That hasn't stopped him dreaming of a switch to Parkhead one day, though. "Celtic came in a lot and I was excited and happy about it," Hickey told Herald and Times Sport. "I don't know if it was the right option for me, though, because of the deal or something. 

"I'm a Celtic supporter and it was massive for me, but I just didn't think it was the right time to go there.

"I wouldn't ever rule it out down the line, who knows."

We told in an exclusive sit-down with the starlet how he's desperate to be involved in Scotland's Euro 2020 squad. With some tough competition in his natural left-back position, Hickey - who was the subject of a phone call from manager Steve Clarke before he picked his World Cup qualifier squad last month - would be willing to duke it out at right-back instead.

But he has now revealed he may need surgery on his shoulder after dislocating it earlier this campaign. He said: "At some point I'll have to get surgery and I think it's two-and-a-half months out after that. I don't really want to miss pre-season so hopefully I don't have to get it any time soon."