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.

Celtic v Motherwell – cinch Premiership – Celtic Park Celtics Rocco Vata during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Saturday April 22, 2023. Photo Steve Welsh

“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.

28th December 2022 Easter Road, Edinburgh, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, Hibernian versus Celtic Rocco Vata on the ball. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

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

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Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week and if you join today you will receive a Champions League Scarf.