In one sense, this is an everyday tale of Balance Sheet FC.
Although I have to be circumspect about what I can share in purely financial terms, this is a very tidy bit of business for Celtic.
Today, a very well-placed source gave me the scéal of what had transpired between the Israeli player and the club.
Firstly, for reasons utterly unrelated to football, I reckon it is best for all concerned that the talented young winger will no longer wear the Hoops.
It is no secret that he was under fierce pressure from back home because of the Celtic support’s affiliation with the cause of Palestine.
For the avoidance of doubt, he wasn’t pushed out the door, far from it.
Indeed, the lad’s willingness to give up almost £2m in loyalty and appearance bonuses indicates that he was keen to leave.
My information is that his side of the deal is also picking up the agent’s fees, etc.
Finally, Celtic also has a substantial sell-on fee from the profit of any future sale.
The lad is a genuine player and will have a good career in front of him.
I wish him well.
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The Herald still giving it the “He was forced out of the door”narrative even after the boy posted a long and heartfelt thank you and goodbye to the Celtic support,which they have obviously chose to ignore.What a decline in a broadsheet.Utter rag now.
Nonsense,no one chased him away.
At the risk of sounding like a contrarian Phil, I don’t rate him very highly at all, his numbers papered over the cracks IMO, a winger who cant take on a fullback, cant cross and has no pace worked well in a big Ange system where he could rely on others to do his job, if we got anywhere near the fee being reported the club has done very well, and the sell on clause is virtually worthless if it relys on his value rising, I think he is about to be found out big time. But i wish the lad well, he’s a young man caught up in a situation that is entirely not of his doing
Sad situation for football to be in, made even worse for him that the abuse is from is own “people” I say that lightly.I feel for him & can only wish him well as all Celtic fans do , just a pity someone else gets what we were nurturing.All the best to him & hisfamily.
Me too Phil . And yet ,if we are to believe the Glasgow Herald today ,it was the Celtic fans who forced young Liel to make his decision . The uppity Green Brigade were the culprits for this sad state of affairs . Then again, when a news outlet sells around 127 copies a day – give or take – to it’s most loyal of readers , we must sit up and pay strict attention as it clearly has an abundance of influence over Scottish sport matters ..arf !