“I’ve not talked to Celtic,” Mathias Kvistgaarden
Danish striker Mathias Kvistgaarden was linked with a move to Celtic both last summer and again during the January transfer window. Celtic had a bid of over £4m rejected by Brøndby last summer before the Danish club let it be known that the striker would not be sold in the January window as they were involved in a three way battle for the Danish title.
Today our friends at Danish football outlet Tipsbladet send over the transcript of their video interview with Mathias Kvistgaarden, where they asked the player about the ongoing transfer rumours linking him with a move to Celtic.
Kvistgaarden started by confirming he’d heard nothing about any further Celtic approach in January, although Brøndby’s decision not to sell in January but to wait until the summer window, sparks interest that Celtic could come back to the table. Asked about contact with Celtic in the January window the player responded as follows:
Mathias Kvistgaarden – “It was a completely quiet and calm month. I’m not a player who wants to hear much about what’s going on. I just want to concentrate on playing football,” Mathias Kvistgaarden
Tipsbladet – So if I say Celtic, what do you say?
Mathias Kvistgaarden – “Well, I´ve read the headlines.”
Tipsbladet – So you do follow a bit?
Mathias Kvistgaarden – “I’ve read the same headlines as you – you’ve probably made some of them.”
Tipsbladet – How was it to read these things?
Mathias Kvistgaarden – “I didn’t read the articles. They just popped up when I scrolled through social media. So I couldn’t avoid seeing that occasionally there was a picture of me, and then something about Celtic.”
Tipsbladet – And you could resist clicking on the link?
Mathias Kvistgaarden – “A couple of years ago I was bad at that. Back then, I read a lot about what was written about me. I’ve gotten much better at letting it go. It doesn’t help me to read such things.”
Tipsbladet – But the big question – did you hear anything from Celtic?
Mathias Kvistgaarden – “I haven’t talked to them. The dream is obviously to go abroad at some point. It’s every player’s dream, but it’s not something I want to talk about now. I’m sitting here in a Brøndby jersey and have a season to play. So it doesn’t bother me at all.
“It would be an extra bonus for me, having come all the way from the youth department. This club has created me as a football player, so there is no doubt that I would like to repay them with a good transfer fee.”
This transfer story is not going away. Will Celtic get our man in the summer transfer window or will the changes at the club’s recruitment staff over the last week end this one once and for all? Was Mathias Kvistgaarden a Mark Lawwell project or is he the real deal and one that Brendan Rodgers is interested in pursuing.
What’s clear is that the Danish media think there’s still something in Celtic moving for Kvistgaarden and the player is looking for a move abroad while his club judging by previous comments are looking to cash in this summer.