Rocco Vata set to leave Celtic but not in this window

Anthony Joseph at Sky Sports has reported that Rocco Vata will be allowed leave in January amid speculation around his future at the club.

Joseph said the following about Vata earlier today: “Celtic also don’t plan to send Vata out on loan – he fits the homegrown criteria needed for the UCL.
He has one year left on his deal and doesn’t want to open contract talks at this stage – he would like to explore his opportunities for first team football elsewhere.

“He’s in Ireland u21 squad and has been playing for Celtic B in the Lowland League this season- Scottish football’s 5th tier.

“Clubs across Europe, including Torino and Club Brugge, remain interested in Vata. He will be able to speak to clubs and negotiate a pre-contract in January.”

With the departure of the talented Irishman now looking a certainty, questions must be asked about Celtic’s development pathway into the first team, indeed The Celtic Star often asked questions about this very point to both Ange Postecoglou and John Kennedy last season at various media conferences.

Vata will join a long list of highly rated Celtic academy players who have opted to leave the club due to a lack of opportunities and a lack of a clear pathway to the first team.

Those who doubt the 18-year-old’s ability to play in this Celtic first team need only look at the club’s current options out wide, James Forrest and Sead Hakšabanović, who are getting in match-day squads ahead of the young Irishman at the moment, are not names that jump out as definitively much better players at this stage.

The latter failing to impress throughout his Celtic career thus far.

Vata impressed at every opportunity he was given last season with his direct running and burst of pace, his departure will be a failure of the club and further highlight the alienation of the club’s policy of bringing through academy players.

James French