Former Celtic striker explains falling out with Rodgers

Former Celtic striker explains falling out with Rodgers

According to Sports.

Background

Former Celtic striker Moussa Dembélé has reflected on his time under Brendan Rodgers, highlighting the importance of player development. His successes in Scotland, including winning domestic titles, have made him a sought-after player in European football. Dembélé's move to Lyon in 2018 was a significant step in his career, highlighting the challenges and expectations in global football.

Why this is important

Moussa Dembélé not only celebrated sporting success during his time at Celtic, but also gained important experience in his player development. The discussions surrounding his transfer policy and arrangements with Brendan Rodgers shed light on the challenges players can face in the transfer market. Such insights are particularly relevant as they highlight the dynamics between players, coaches and clubs during the summer transfer window.

Key findings

• Former Celtic striker explains falling out with Rodgers.
• Moussa Dembélé talks about his time at Celtic and the promises made regarding his career development.
• Celtic’s Former Striker Reveals Rodgers Fallout: Should The Club Change Transfer Policy?.

Moussa Dembélé has reopened an old chapter at Celtic by explaining the deal he discussed with Brendan Rodgers before his move to Glasgow in 2016. The former striker claims both parties had a clear understanding about his development and eventual move to one of Europe's top leagues. Dembélé told the Daily Record that the original plan was to spend two seasons at Celtic before being given the opportunity to move to a top five league in Europe. However, when the possibility of a move arose, the Frenchman expressed disappointment at how the talks had gone. The striker made it clear that his frustration was not with his overall experience under Rodgers, but with the circumstances of his move to the new club. He believes the coach played a crucial role in his development, both professionally and personally. During his time in Scotland, Dembélé enjoyed considerable success. Celtic won the domestic double in their first year under Rodgers, followed by another double in the 2017-18 season. His performances attracted interest from several European clubs, with Lyon winning his bid in August 2018. His move is said to have netted Celtic around £20m, although published figures vary. Despite their falling out, Dembélé is enjoying w e with great respect for Rodgers. He praised the manager's tactical influence and recalled how Celtic became a team feared by opponents. The pair recently met again in Saudi Arabia, where Dembélé's Al-Ettifaq drew 2-2 against Rodgers' Al-Qadsiah. At this meeting, both had the opportunity to resolve their previous misunderstanding. Dembélé confirmed that Rodgers wished him well for the season, suggesting their relationship has now improved over the disappointment surrounding Dembélé's move to Celtic. “It didn’t end the way it should have ended at Celtic,” said Dembélé. "If I could change something, I would change that. The part where I walked away. But not from my side, because when I met Brendan in London, about a month before I moved to Celtic, the plan was really, really clear: come here, work hard for two years and then, of course, we'll try to transfer you to a club in a top five league. So yeah, when the opportunity came I was really disappointed because I felt like what was said wasn't true was complied with and that is what happened. "It's all a thing of the past now. Brendan was a huge, huge role in my career. He improved me a lot as a player and as a person. We had an undefeated season, then we got the Double Treb le won and he was a big part of it because he made the team a huge improvement. Of course we played much better football. The opponents were afraid of us. That is the reality. A team just came and said, ‘Okay, today we’re just trying not to lose, but not to lose 3-0 or 4-0.’ Brendan was a big part of that. He is a fantastic coach. His record speaks for itself. I don't need to say much about it." Dembélé added: "I didn't want it to end like that at Celtic, but I don't think he wanted it to end like that either. I think it's the same with both parties. Sometimes you're in a different place, you're not on the same wavelength, and that's not just in football. It's like that in life too. You have to take a step back, see the positive things and just keep going. Simple. I played against him two weeks ago. We drew 2-2 against him Team played, and of course everything is now in the past.

What happens next

It remains to be seen how Dembélé's experiences will influence his future decisions in the transfer market. Given his success and positive development under Rodgers, he could continue to be of interest to other clubs such as Al-Ettifaq. The discussion about the right transfer policy will be important for many clubs in the coming season, especially when it comes to signing talented players learning is possible.

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