Celtic star tells club he'll seek transfer exit on two conditions as Champions League quality demand sent
The midfielder is hoping to end his career at Parkhead
Celtic captain Callum McGregor claims he’d only ever leave Parkhead on two conditions - if the club’s hierarchy didn’t share his European ambitions or if they didn’t want him anymore.
The skipper is nearing 600 appearances for the club he joined as a kid and remains one of their most decorated ever players, with ten league titles, six Scottish Cups and eight League Cups to his name. In the same week where fellow long-serving Celt, James Forrest signed a new one-year deal, McGregor is also hoping to finish his career at Celtic Park, however it could be dependent on a few external factors.
The 32-year old took succeeded Scott Brown as skipper in 2021 and has since tried to instil the values he grew up when breaking into the squad for the next generation. One of which is European success - something this season the Hoops squandered, having been knocked out of the Champions League by Kazakhstan minnows, Kairat Almaty. This result seen the club’s hierarchy receive criticism for not investing enough in the squad during the summer window.
Celtic captain makes ‘feelings known’ to the board
McGregor claimed he’d only leave the club willingly if the Hoops board took their eye off the ball in Europe and is currently looking at Celtic’s plans for beyond next season. The midfielder is under contract until the summer of 2028. He said: “We’ve already had that conversation (him and the board). I’ve made my feelings known that I want to be here — so it’s kind of on the club.
“I’ve always been the same. I want to be at Celtic — as long as the club want me there and as long as the club’s ambition matches my own in terms of playing any the highest level. For probably half the time I’ve been here, we’ve been playing in the Champions League or been in the Europa League, which is a really good standard of football as well.
“We have to continue to push and be as good as we can possibly be. I don’t want to sit here and be a Celtic captain who’s not winning anything. I’ve been very honest with everyone in that conversation. The people inside the club know it. If we’re not going to be the best version of Celtic then I don’t want to be the guy who’s not winning any trophies. That’s not me and not who I am.
“We should have been, and could’ve been, a Champions League club this year. We missed out on penalties. We had five chances in extra-time to score over there against Kairat Almaty and we didn’t. It’s not to say we’re not a Champions League club any more, or we are. We just have to aim to be as good as we can be in every area. Can we sign the best players that we can in each position?”
McGregor on a potential move
The captain has been linked with a Brendan Rodgers reunion at Al Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League as the former Hoops boss was big admirer of his captain. However, this was quickly snubbed at by McGregor, who may have other potential suitors in the summer. When asked about a move elsewhere, he responded: “I want to be here, so let’s try and find a solution to that first. If the club don’t want me to be here then I won’t be here, it’s as simple as that.”
For the current campaign, McGregor is hoping to rally his teammates to what would be their fifth league title on the spin. It’s been a disappointing domestic campaign for the Hoops, but they still sit only three points behind Hearts and two behind Rangers. With their rivals within touching distance, the Scotsman isn’t calling for panic stations just yet. He continued: “I don’t want to speak too soon, but it’s like you’re one result away really from being top of the league and being right in the conversation. So, despite the circus this year, all the noise, we’re still only three points off the leaders. That kind of tells you where it’s at.”
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