This is what happens when a football club has talent and equity in the squad.
The irony of the situation is that the people in charge at Celtic have just lost a winger which they weren’t expecting to leave.
Indeed, the photogenic winger was even part of the recent marketing effort for the new home kit.
Awkward.
This is the Celtic calendar for the month of July.
Oops!
I’m told that the departure of Liel Abada WAS priced in for the new season, and new Bhoy Marco Tilio was scouted as a replacement for the young Israeli.
Celtic’s interest in the Australian kid started when his fellow countryman was the gaffer at Parkhead.
Brendan then gave his blessing to the deal going ahead.
As for the Jota deal, Benfica definitely has a sell-on clause.
Conflicting reports state that it is either a percentage of the profit from the sale or a chunk of the transfer fee itself.
Either way, Celtic will make a profit on the lad; the only question is how much.
My information is that the deal was done in US Dollars, and a fee of $37m isn’t to be sniffed at.
Then there are the add-ons of $7.5m and a sell-on when the Portuguese winger moves from Al-Ittihad.
Earlier this year, I referred Sevco to losing their two main assets from the squad for nothing.
When Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos Did Walking Away.
I said it would be akin to Celtic losing Jota and Kyogo for nothing.
Well, the former has left the building, and Brendan Rodgers will have funds to replace him.
The other player featured on the July page of the Celtic calendar is also a real loss to the Parkhead cause.
Aaron Mooy, forced to retire because of injury, makes the re-building job for Brendan Rodgers even more pressing.
Those in the green corner of Glasgow who think that Celtic didn’t try and keep the Portuguese magician would be seriously off target.
He was offered a new deal that would have put him in the top earning bracket at the Parkhead club.
However, that would only amount to 25% of what he gets from Al-Ittihad.
Moreover, his remuneration at his new club will be tax-free.
This tsunami of Saudi sports washing across several sports shows no signs of abating.
Across the city, the basket of assets is racing ahead in the Close Season Cup.
As ever, to find out what is really happening, we need to follow follow the money.
The headline figure will undoubtedly soothe the Ibrox klanbase.
Their rudimentary understanding of such matters will lead them to conclude that their beloved Sevco has the financial muscle to write a cheque for £4.5m.
Well, actually, they don’t.
My information is that the £4.5m figure for Cyriel Dessers is made up of some rather hopeful add-ons.
I’m told that the likely fee is more in the region of £2m, paid over several tranches to Cremonese.
Getting the deal done within the accounting year (ending June 30th) was a decisive factor for the Lombardy outfit.
Dear reader, the financial picture of the two Glasgow clubs could not be more different.
The only thing for the current SPFL champions is for those vastly superior resources to be deployed competently.
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It seems that the Scottish media has failed to realise, or ignore the fact that in the current season Celtic could overhaul the total number of trophies historically won by the blue side of Glasgow.
Phil, you titled your article Top Dollar. It should read Dirty dollar. A club with Celtic’s history should not be tainting themselves by touching blood money making themselves complicit after the fact in the horror of a regime that beheads for fun and murders one of your fellow journalists. I find the Saudi regime absolutely abhorrent and Jota should be ashamed of himself for becoming part of it. Governments talk a lot these days about blood diamonds and banning of ivory sales but still kowtow to the Saudis because they have oil. No need for Celtic to bow down too
Agree, remember the slogan Don’t play Sun City.
Well said
Whilst I can understand your argument had it been Celtic taking money for a tour of Saudi Arabia I don’t agree with your point here. The options are to refuse the allow Jota to go to Saudi Arabia or get the highest possible fee in return for him going. It is not for Celtic to decide where he goes, only whether he does go at all. Your option means Celtic refuse Jota the option to reportedly make £10m per year. If Celtic were to go down the road of refusing to allow a player to leave for an obscene pay rise you can be sure it would affect Celtic’s ability to tempt players in the first place. The black mark is against Jota for taking that money in return for his services, not Celtic for squeezing the maximum compensation. If you are so morally against any money going to Saudi Arabia, and remember we are getting compensation from them, then stop filling your car, stop using public transport. Unfortunately you send money to Saudi Arabia every time you do so. I agree, however, that choosing to work for that regime is to be questioned but I would challenge if you would do the same if offered such eye watering money to do so.
JS
The financial advantage is only useful if you spend it to bolster the squad.
We currently have not done that.
While I’m no expert I don’t see the two ne recruits taking us to the level of Champions League second spot.
That is going to take serious investment and that, historically, has been our Boards problem.
Wtf about our new kit? Worst ever , who signs these off , or does anyone actually have any say at Celtic FC? Horrible awful top , ffs , what’s wrong with a simple hooped shirt , not a fkn crayon drawn effort , JOKE
When TF did a kit ever have an effect on where the trophies end up at the end of the season? If that’s all you’ve got to moan about, then you like me will be looking forward to another winning season
As much as I dinny like this top it’s the player that wears it’ is the big picture’ for me it’s green n white, I think there’s only so much you can do with the hoops so weather you like it or not,which I don’t I will still buy it n am 66 years old I wear my celtic tops with pride, COYBIG Hail X 2
Will sevco get their just Dessers – if they spend money they haven’t got?
If Cremonese wanted the transfer to happen within their current financial year,
– i.e. before 30th June –
then, likewise, you would think that RIFC would want any transfer to hit their
next financial year
– i.e. AFTER 30th June –
as their club remains on the UEFA FSR Watchlist.
Mibbees another RIFC Share Issue is in the pipeline?
The UEFA watchlist is for FFP not FSR.
But I’m sure I read that in the SMSM…
Thanks for the clarification. 🙂
Sevco are on the UEFA watchlist for FFP.
FSR is the new scheme to prevent clubs from overspending via their wage costs.
It is designed to avoid insolvency events happening in the first place.
Rewind to the insolvency that didn t happen in may 2012
Why are the players at stenography f.c. not more accountable for their pandering to the Espanyol of Glasgow.
It is just as well that readership levels at their current employers is plummeting towards unsustainable figures which will eventually lead to liquidation which will be apt for them.
With Hatate also being touted for a big money move, this will not be a popular request from me but can we use some of it to finish the stadium and give us a 80,000 seated stadium therefore doubling the advantage that Fergus left us with, its a no brainer for me.
I think your right re making the stadium bigger, there’s plenty on the waiting list, Disabled waiting list is 10 years. So the supporters are there to buy into it.
It should have been put into place during covid when the stadium was empty. Still think it should be done now or during the next construction down turn.
Some fans suggests it won’t return any £`s and is silly to spend. However, the life of a new stand is 50yrs (don’t quote me here) so 20,000 x 5 (just games v sevco and champions league) x 50 years at £30 a ticket is £150m
In a non £`s game, football without fans is nothing, so getting more fans in should be a good thing.
To finish the stadium? The stadium is finished, the main stand won’t be added to not during my time, that’s all been spoke about, the hotel is next investment on our agenda, then the covered fan zone at the bus park behind the stadium
They buy 20m of STs they queue round the door for castore rags, then make a fabricated 2m from tilman.
They are ecstatic with freebies and bargain basement players.