Nir Bitton has confirmed to Israeli media that he did receive a fresh contract offer from Celtic but it was the player himself who chose to turn down the deal.
Bitton speaking to Israeli publication Sport 1 explains the contract offered by Celtic for the option of an extra year on the deal were not offered with the same terms attached as the previous three years.
Yet the player also points out the final decision reached was not simply that financial issue, it was also a wish to experience something other than Scottish football, where he’d spent nine years winning 15 trophies. Whether that is abroad or back home in Israel remains to be seen.
“I signed a new contract in 2019. I just finished it after three years. They had an option to continue the contract and they offered me a new contract not on the terms of the option. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not about money. I just got some kind of extraction. I won everything there, I played in all the possible competitions against the biggest players and I want to experience something different, whether it’s abroad or if it’s in Israel.
“The week before the official announcement of the departure was very difficult for me. I cried a lot. I’d see videos and the tears would come out. It’s a club I’ve spent my entire career in. I’ve been through everything there: wins, sad moments, injuries, titles…I’ve seen my whole career go before my eyes in a few moments.
“In the last game, which was also a coronation game. I sat on the bench before the players came up and there was an exciting atmosphere. And when the Celtic crowd sang You’ll Never Walk Alone with the scarves in the air I cried and couldn’t control it. I owe Celtic a lot for the trust and everything they have given me in my career and life. I will stay a Celt forever.”
Whatever the reasons were, the fact is Nir Bitton has said his goodbyes and has left Celtic on the best possible terms, and it appears Bitton will very much remain a Celtic fan even if his days of pulling on the jersey and performing at Celtic Park are now.
Bitton was also quoted by the same publication yesterday as saying the fallout from his red card at Ibrox and the abusive social media responses he received was his darkest times at Celtic, thankfully it seems the player himself recognised he was overwhelmingly appreciated by the Celtic family and those experiences haven’t soured what was an incredible trophy laden period of his career.
Niall J
The Celtic Star HQ this afternoon and will be posted out today along with copies of the Harry Hood biography or the story of the Invincible season. These t-shirts are NOT going on sale, instead they come FREE when you order a copy of the relevant book from Celtic Star Books, link below. Choose from Invincible – The Story of that remarkable 2016/17 season or Harry Hood – Twice as Good, the official biography of the Celtic legend.
GET YOUR INVINCIBLE AND TWICE AS GOOD T-SHIRTS NOW FREE WITH MATT CORR’S BRILLIANT CELTIC BOOKS
You want one of these? It’s completely FREE when you purchase INVINCIBLE or TWICE AS GOOD* from Celtic Star Books website, just click on the t-shirt below to order your copy and when you do select the BOOK you want then add the T-SHIRT SIZE you require from small, medium, large, XL or XXL, adding that after your name so we’ll know which size to send you…
*£1 from every copy of Twice as Good will be donated to Marie Curie in memory of Harry Hood and in line with the wishes of the Hood family.
