Carl Starfelt looks certain to be leaving the club shortly with a move to La liga side Celta Vigo looking very likely in the coming days. The Sweden international defender has been a top player for Celtic and will be sadly missed. Starfelt didn’t have the best of starts at the club but soon found his form and established a potent partnership with Cameron Carter Vickers in the centre of defence.
During his time at the club Carl was regularly criticised, somewhat unfairly in my view. Yeah, sure he made mistakes, but in the whole he has been more successful and played an integral part in our success the past two seasons.
Carl’s partnership with CCV was built on a solid understanding so with the Swede leaving it’s going to leave a big void in the centre of the defence. Of course we have signed Maik Nawrocki and he too looks an assured player, but it will take time to build up the same sort of understanding Carl had with CCV.
Carl Starfelt leaving means there’s a gap in the squad, something we surely need to rectify before the window shuts? Hopefully we do, as it’s a must. It’s imperative we do, we can’t afford not to. Maybe Brendan Rodgers will look at going with Liam Scales as an alternative.
The Irishman is himself unsure whether he’s wanted at Celtic Park this season with Aberdeen manager Barry Robson looking to sign him for Aberdeen. You would imagine that Rodgers is canny enough not to allow that to happen – if it is a move he sanctions – until after Celtic visit Pittodrie a week today.
Yesterday the Celtic manager had this to say to a BBC reporter about Carl Starfelt’s situation. “Carl could leave, hence the reason for not starting him. It might be something that goes through next week but we shall see.
“He’s been a fantastic servant here, he’s a great guy and very committed but there’s reasons why he might want to move on so we’ll see how that looks.”
Later in the evening Fabrizio Romano had this to say: “Celta Vigo are closing in on Carl Starfelt deal with Celtic — permanent transfer being agreed this weekend. Personal terms agreed and clubs now on the verge of completing the deal.”
In his post match interviews, shown above, Brendan Rodgers confirmed that Carl Starfelt wants to leave Celtic to take up the opportunity elsewhere so the club is correct to allow this to happen provided the transfer valuations are met. No want-aways in a Celtic squad, remember what happened the last time?
Celtic v Ross County – Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Saturday August 5, 2023. Use subject to restrictions. Photo Steve Welsh
Brendan said; “Carl could leave, hence the reason for not starting him, that’s maybe something that will go through next week, but we shall see. He’s obviously been a fantastic servant here, and he’s a great guy and really committed, but there’s reasons why he might want to move on.
“Yeah. I wanted to to put Carl Starfelt on because it might be his last appearance here. He’s been a great servant to the club. There’s interest from him and he would like to take up that possibility. So for me, we. We have to. And we will resolve that as quick as we can. But I felt it was nice for him to get an appearance and maybe a final appearance at Celtic Park.
“The clubs are in communication, so I’m sure that will go through at some point. I would say an early part of next week, if not before. Clearly, he probably felt it was a time to move on. And I got to say, really respectful, loved his time here.
“There’s obviously certain conditions there that has made him think, he would be going to one of the top leagues. And economically, it’s hard for us to compete on that side and obviously his partner is no longer here anymore and has moved on. So a number of reasons as too why he would like to move on.
“But I have to say total professional, been first class and if it didn’t go through, I know I can rely on him, But I think it probably will.”
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
