Brendan Rodgers has said that Rocco Vata was offered a contract and a role in the Celtic team before opting to leave. The Irish youngster signed for Watford last week in a deal that landed Celtic £237k in compensation.
Speaking after Celtic’s 6-4 with against Queen’s Park at the City Stadium, Rodgers made it clear that the club did make attempts to sign Vata on a long term deal.
“Rocco was offered a contract and he was going to be one of three strikers at Celtic, he decided that that wasn’t going to be for him.”
“So he then leaves. That’s absolutely fine and we wish him all the very best.”
Celtic did offer the player a contract but this was knocked back. Vata, who is represented by CAA Base, appears to have been keen for a deal that would include promises over game time, something that Brendan Rodgers wasn’t willing to give. The Irishman gave a fairly measured and cold response suggesting that the player gets his head down, bides his time and proves his worth.
Rodgers gave him a substitute appearance against Buckie Thistle earlier this year and the youngster scored but it wasn’t enough to get him into the team.
The player clearly sees himself going onto big things and is not wanting to hang about as opportunities are given to other first team players.
Spot on Brendan! I don’t care WHO it is! You don’t get guaranteed game time with Celtic! You PLAY for your game time!
If this was his approach, personally speaking, I’m glad he’s gone. Of course I wish him well and hope he soon learns the way the real world works very quickly out there!
But the prima dona approach will not serve him well long term.
Maybe you should get all your facts straight before you start judging!! He’s not a prima Donna just a kid looking to show what he can do and desperate to play football. He was starting to get that under Ange who knew his talent. Maybe you should ask Brendan why he didn’t give him a chance, his work ethic is first class, commitment could never be questioned and he’s been at Celtic since he was 7.