Tom Rogic, Nir Bitton and the curious absence of pre-planned destinations

It was tears for souvenirs when Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic bid their farewells to Celtic on Trophy Day at Parkhead last month. The exits of both players were handled impeccably by both the club and the players, but a month on neither Nir or Tom have announced where they will be playing their football next season – a strange situation when you consider both players it would seem have left the club without a destination in mind.

Nir Bitton it was reported had an offer to return home to Israel with Maccabi Tel-Aviv but it appears personal terms were not to his taste, and now according to Israeli publication Sport 1 the Israeli club and Bitton haven’t bridged the gap, with Maccabi apparently keeping the original offer on the table with no improvement on terms offered, and Bitton – who was apparently keen to return to Israel for family reasons – hasn’t so far budged from his stance of requiring more money to sign on the dotted line.

Meanwhile Tom Rogic,  has according to reports declined the opportunity – and a lucrative contract attached – to join Indonesian outfit Persija Jakarta.

Having withdrawn from Australia’s successful World Cup play-off wins over United Arab Emirates and Peru because of personal reasons, it was assumed in some quarters that withdrawal was due to prioritising a search for a new club, yet if that club was Persija Jakarta it appears, much like with Bitton, the offer on the table hasn’t enticed Rogic enough.

Nir Bitton of Celtic passes the ball under pressure from Dylan Levitt of Dundee United during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Dundee United at Celtic Park on January 29, 2022. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

For Nir Bitton there is plenty room for manoeuvre and as such little need to jump to Maccabi Tel-Aviv’s first offer, yet with Tom Rogic there will be a desire to get his next club sorted out sooner rather than later. After all, after Australia’s dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Peru the Socceroo’s and Tom Rogic have a World Cup to prepare for. As such having the issue of club football settled sooner rather than later may be something of a priority for both parties.

Rogic of course won’t be short of offers from the A League back home, but at the time of leaving Celtic such a destination didn’t appear to be top of the former Celt’s list of preferred options, although you’d probably have assumed the same for Indonesia.

Both players are far from the footballing scrapheap with Bitton 30 years of age and Rogic 29, yet the next moves are possibly their last chance of winning a contract both financially agreeable and of a suitable length to see them through towards retirement, as well as being in a level of competition befitting of their respective talents.

It’s a strange old position for both players to have left Celtic without not having alternative arrangements lined up, and it looks stranger as the days pass without either player committing to a new club.

Perhaps both players are more than relaxed about the situation, but in the case of Tom Rogic in particular, the need to find somewhere to play and quickly will soon be a pressing issue with Qatar 2022 on the horizon.

Here’a a reminder of how Sandman rated both players in his outstanding end of season review….

READ THIS…Sandman’s Graphically Explicit Review of Season 2021/22

Niall J

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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