Celtic star tipped to follow in footsteps of former mentors as Hoops icon shares theory after interesting spot
Ex West Ham and Hoops striker fears the club are about to lose a big name
Celtic icon Frank McAvennie thinks Callum McGregor might be following in the footsteps of ex bosses Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou to the Saudi Pro League - which would back up his theory that the skipper is headed for the exit door after he didn’t front the club’s home kit reveal for the first time in six years.
There have been no indications as yet that the 33-year old midfielder wants to leave Celtic Park. Earlier in the week he took part in an interview with the club discussing ‘standards’ for the season ahead. However McAvennie has a hunch he could be leaving in the summer amid rumoured interest from Saudi Arabia.
Ex manager Rodgers completed his Saudi switch in December when he took the reins at Al-Qadsiah, while fellow former boss ‘big Ange’ took charge of champions Al-Nassr earlier this month. With two prominent managers that know McGregor very well in the division, it’s no surprise that transfer rumours are circulating.
McAvennie shares McGregor theory
Speaking on his Let Me Be Frank podcast, McAvennie shared his theory that McGregor’s time at Parkhead may be up. He said: “It’s just me an my instincts. I tell you why, he came out and said about not matching his ambitions – but it’s the first time in about 10 (6) years he wasn’t the main guy in the main kit advert, and I thought ‘oh’. Listen, if he goes he will go with my blessing because he has been different class. I hope he stays.”
Celtic’s aforementioned kit advert for the upcoming season was instead fronted by veteran winger James Forrest. While this in itself doesn’t prove anything about McGregor’s future, McAvennie believes with two of his former mentors in Saudi Arabia that the dots can be joined up. He continued: “He has got Brendan over there, but he has Ange as well. I am thinking the guy is at an age where you go over there for two years, you will make more money in two years than your whole career.”
What has McGregor said about his Celtic future?
Mr Celtic has made over 600 appearances in his 13 years at the club thus far, winning 26 major honours on the way. In a recent interview with Celtic, McGregor wasn’t asked about his immediate future, however he spoke passionately about the season ahead, indicating that he won’t be going anywhere. He said: “I've pretty much said it in every pre-season trip I've been on that at some point in the season we will be tested, the character will be tested and the team will be tested in that sense.
“So it's how we react and deal with pressure and deal with setbacks. A lot of the work that you do in pre-season when you're tired, when the sessions are long, it's finding that mental strength to get through it, and that's what will carry us through difficult moments throughout the season.”
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