Dedryck Boyata was not present during Celtic’s Champions League qualifying game against AEK and this has posed serious doubts about the defender’s future at the club.
Boyata joined Celtic FC from Manchester City in 2015 on a four-year contract for a fee of about £1.5 million but with each passing day, the 27-year-old looks less of a Celtic player.
The defender has entered the final year of his contract and Fulham were interested in signing him before the English transfer window shut down last week.
Celtic had immediately rejected the bid as they had no interest in selling Boyata which has given rise to subsequent rumours that the player has now refused to play for the Hoops.
This report though was quickly squandered by Boyata who has come out to claim that he is in fact injured and all the rumours of his rebellion are utter rubbish.
Dedryck Boyata said: “When I hear I’ve refused to play since I came back from vacation, it’s wrong.
“Last Thursday, I hurt myself when I slipped in training and I held my leg immediately.
“The physio saw it and examined me right after the session. I put ice for 30 minutes on my leg and, the next day, I specified I had pains.
“The exams proved I could not play against Hearts and, since then, I’m doing everything I can to be ready as quickly as possible.”
Boyata even posted a video on his Instagram account which showed him receiving treatment.
While Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has not commented if Dedryck Boyata’s time at Celtic Park is over, fans though are determined to see him move out of the club and a number of them want Rodgers to bring in former Chelsea defender John Terry in order to replace him.
Dedryck Boyata should be grateful Celtic gave him the opportunity to play… while he has some good attributes he has been a bombscare at times..He is a disgrace..Celtic need to get him out of the building ASAP..important thing is to get a quality centre half in now…
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) August 13, 2018
I keep saying it John Terry would be a good shout plenty of experience especially in Europe plus a good leader on the park
— @Colin_McGregor (@colin_gregor) August 13, 2018
Would definitely add leadership and experience and you would like to think he'd bring younger defenders on. But… Lock up your WAGS!
— MaestroNumber8 (@Joe_T2000) August 13, 2018
Get John Terry to Celtic ASAP.
— B. (@bryancomplains) August 13, 2018
John Terry left Chelsea after a long association with the London club and played the 2017-18 season for Championship side Aston Villa but the defender left the club this May after they failed to gain promotion to the Premier League.
So technically John Terry is now a free agent so it would not be a really tough ask to bring him to Celtic Park.
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