Brendan Rodgers Addresses Matt O'Riley Transfer Speculation: 'Value the Player, Not the League'

Brendan Rodgers on Matt O'Riley: "Value the Player, Not the League"

In recent statements, Celtic's manager Brendan Rodgers has made it clear that the club's in-demand midfielder, Matt O'Riley, will not be leaving for a bargain price. This declaration comes amid growing interest from various clubs in Europe including Atalanta, Juventus, Roma, and Atletico Madrid.

High Demand and Rejected Bids

Celtic has reportedly turned down three separate offers from Atalanta, with the most recent bid thought to be around £15 million in initial fees along with potential add-ons. The interest in O'Riley is a testament to his impressive performance last season, where he netted 19 goals and provided 18 assists over 49 appearances.

Rodgers Puts Financial Expectations on Clubs

Rodgers emphasized the importance of clubs recognizing the true worth of O'Riley, stating, "The challenge for teams coming to a club like Celtic is they sometimes can place their value on the league and not the player." He highlighted that while other leagues may offer richer financial incentives, the value of a player like O'Riley goes beyond monetary compensation.

Celtic's Stance on Transfers

According to Rodgers, no player will be transferred unless the club receives an appropriate valuation. As it stands, there have not been any offers that meet Celtic's expectations. "What’s important for me is if a player does leave here, they pay the value for the player, and that isn’t something that always happens," he added.

Current State of Transfers at Celtic

To date, Celtic has only secured two signings this summer: Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo. The club’s prior bid for Adam Idah, a Norwich striker, has also been rejected. This situation underscores the ongoing work that the management needs to address ahead of the new season.

Goals for the Upcoming Season

Rodgers expressed optimism that by the close of the summer transfer window, the squad would be stronger and ready to face the coming challenges. "You cannot snooze in this game of football; you always have to be developing and improving," he noted. The hope is to finalize transfers by the end of August, ensuring fresh talent is integrated into the squad.

Conclusion

As interest in O'Riley continues to grow, the message from Brendan Rodgers is clear: clubs must recognize the value of their players appropriately. With the summer transfer window still open, fans await further developments and potential new signings that will fortify Celtic's lineup for the new season.

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