Romain Perraud – ‘Celtic decided to change their mind,’ 21 year old left back reveals, but why?

ROMAIN PERRAUD has broken his silence on Celtic’s decision not to sign him as the second left back purchase of the summer window. The Scottish Champions have already paid £3million to Rapid Vienna Boli Bolingoli, who had a torrid evening in Cluj last night and had reportedly made two bids to sign Perraud from OGC Nice.

Perraud spent last season on loan at FC Paris and Neil Lennon travelled to the French capital at the end of April to scout the left back personally. The player returned to the Alliance Rivera on the Cote D’Azur for pre-season training in July but made it known that he wanted a move and talked up playing in the Champions League, amid continuing Celtic speculation.

It appeared though that Celtic after apparently having two bids rejected did not go back and the 21 year old Perraud subsequently signed a four year contract for newly promoted Ligue 1 side Brest.

Optimists among The Celtic support saw this as improving the chances of Kieran Tierney remaining at the club and with Arsenal having had two bids rejected and appearing reluctant to meet Celtic’s asking price of £25million, that looked a possibility.

Celtic dropping their interest in Perraud was surely a sign that KT was staying, was the hope that was dashed last night. Now Celtic are left with £25million in the bank but with their potential replacement for Tierney already away to a new club.

News broke during the latter stages of Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Cluj in the vital Champions League qualifier, that the clubs had reached an agreement on the transfer fee and that Tierney and his agent were London bound from Edinburgh airport.

Emilio Izaguirre was Celtic’s back-up left back last season and he left the club in May. With Tierney leaving this afternoon, Celtic have somehow managed to miss out on Perraud.

Now the 21 year old has broken his silence and explained why he didn’t end up playing for Celtic.

“I thought I had a good season with Paris. I knew I had qualities. I just wanted a chance to show them after being stuck in Nice reserves,” Perraud said to the media, as reported by Scottish Sun.

“This summer, Celtic, Brest and Dijon all contacted me with a view to a transfer.

“But Celtic decided to change their mind and that meant I was going to go to Brest instead.

“They are a great team with a good atmosphere in the squad and so I was happy to join this club.

“It’s a different challenge for me.

“Ligue 1 is obviously a lot stronger and I need to step up a level.”

Perraud was vocal in talking up his dream of playing for a club in the Champions League but seems content after completing his £2.5million move to Brest. The Celtic Star covered this story extensively over the past few months.

The question many Celtic Supporters will be asking this afternoon is if Celtic knew that Tierney was likely to leave in this transfer window, why was Perraud – clearly a player who interested Neil Lennon – not signed?

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‘This is a very sad night for Celtic,’ David Potter reacts to the Tierney Transfer…see HERE.

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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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