“It was his request” – Director reveals Celtic player ‘asked’ for transfer, ‘didn’t feel at ease’ under Rodgers

One of the more intriguing sagas involving Celtic and Brendan Rodgers during the January transfer window was Gustaf Lagerbielke’s departure.

Despite having only arrived in the summer, the defender was pushed to the sidelines by his manager, and there was speculation that he could leave on loan in January.

Lecce were interested and made a move for him, but Celtic called off the deal at the last minute, according to reports, due to Cameron Carter-Vickers’ fitness levels, which Lecce technical director Pantaleo Corvino discussed with Calciomercato on Monday.

When asked about the dramatic conclusion to the saga, in which Lagerbielke gave an interview to Italian media, almost pleading for permission to leave for Italy, the veteran director was diplomatic.

He stated, “We appreciated his desire to come to Lecce. We were interested this summer, but we couldn’t meet the exorbitant demands, so he joined Celtic for €4.5 million and €800,000 per year in wages. We had Pongracic and Baschirotto.

“When he wasn’t feeling comfortable, he and his agent asked us to come to Lecce.” This was his request. We did, however, consider Pongracic, Baschirotto, Touba, and Esposito suitable at the beginning of January.”

According to Corvino, the Celtic player and his representatives orchestrated the entire saga.

The Lecce director does not say whether it went as far as it was reported, and we will have to wait and see if anyone else at the club comments on it later.

in other news, Gustaf Lagerbielke’s ‘exorbitant’ Celtic wage revealed as Lecce let slip the figures behind the transfer collapse.