Celtic Star goes all non committal about his Hoops future

FOOTBALL is a business for the players, that’s what Brendan Rodgers told us to remember when we’re considering the contract situations surrounding our players.

Stuart Armstrong look likely to leave, if his agent can sort out a suitable big money move to England. Celtic, of course, would remain a fall back option should that not materialise but the player has always had an ambition to play in the Premier League and there is nothing that Brendan Rodgers or anyone else at Celtic can do should that situation transpire over the coming weeks.

We’d lose a good midfielder and a great song but we move on. We’d all prefer of all five players in this photograph were all at Celtic next season. So far it’s three yes and now two maybes…

Dedryck Boyata is, as you are aware, currently in Russia with Belgium and is even getting a start in that star-studded team due to Vincent Company’s on-going injury problems.

The big central defender at the end of the season was nervously waiting news to see if he made the final cut. As it turned out a television station in Belgium filmed mattresses leaving Brussels bound for Russia and each one had the squad member’s name on their own mattress – and Boyata’s name was shown. He was therefore able to sleep easy knowing that he had made the squad.

He spoke at this time of committing himself to a new contract at Celtic and even in the build-up to the World Cup starting, he spoke about being ready to come back and help in the Champions League qualifiers.

Yesterday though he was a little more non committal about where he’d be playing his football next season – he still has one year of his contract to go but as in the case of Armstrong, Celtic will sell him if there is no new deal agreed. It is highly unlikely that any player would be allowed to see out there contract unless of course they simply dug their heels.

It’s business though, and Boyata is on the biggest stage in football and playing in a team that could go deep into the tournament. He is undoubtedly attracting interest from clubs who know that he has one year on his contract and is currently playing in a league regarded as a back-water. So scouts will be watching him ann Saturday when Belgium face Tunisia, who will test him more than Panama were able to.

And if Company doesn’t recover he’ll face the challenge of playing against the pacy English attackers in the group decider. Boyata’s stock would rise considerably of he performs well in these matches and he knows it.

“Right now, I am concentrating on the World Cup. I am not thinking about my future.

“I still have a year on my contract and we will see after the summer if I continue with Celtic again,” Boyata said yesterday. He also revealed that Company has been talking to him about his game in private.

“What Vincent said to me will stay private, but it was positive and really hit me. A dream became a reality for me against Panama. If you’d told me two years ago I’d play at a World Cup, I wouldn’t have believed you. I must thank my team-mates for their support.

“The people of Belgium did not know me. I’ve never played in my home country. But it’s fun to win over any sceptics.

“The coach will decide what happens next. If he puts me on the bench I won’t complain. The collective comes first.”

Brendan Rodgers started that journey to the World Cup for Boyata away to Albion Rovers in the Scottish Cup at the start of 2017. Boyata had been out of the team and out of favour before that game and his re-introduction was the beginning of the road to Russia for him.

That will count for little though if the offers come in for the player. The next few Belgium games will be interesting.

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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