CHRISTIE I DIDN’T LEAVE CELTIC FOR THE MONEY
Former Celt hits back at snipers and insists move south not about cash
Ryan Christie insists he didn’t leave Celtic for money and has hit back at the snipers who gave him flak for moving to Bournemouth.
MailSport can reveal that Celtic received a £2.5million fee for Christie, which could rise to £ 4m with add-ons, despite him having just four months left on his contract.
Bournemouth and Premier League outfit Burnley had both agreed that deal but Christie picked the Cherries because of gaffer Scott Parker’s style of football and desire to get them back into the Premier League.
His decision to move to the Championship saw the 26-year-old branded a money grabber
and of lacking ambition by former Celtic player Davie Provan.
Christie has revealed he turned down more cash at Turf Moor and insists his burning ambition to play in England’s top flight is why he left Glasgow to head south.
His dad Charlie had it out with old Celtic team-mate Provan over his comments and Christie said: “In terms of the money grabbing shout that’s going about, I just don’t understand it.
“It just confirms to me that most of this stuff comes out of thin air.
“Money-wise, there were better options for me in the Premier League. If I wanted to be a bit-part player for a club in that league, I’d have gone there.
“But I wanted to join a club where I felt I’d be an important player and there would be pressure on me to play well.
“Bournemouth was perfect as a team who are desperate to play in the Premier League.
“If we can get up, hopefully I can be a vital player there.
“I didn’t want to come down here, play for a club where I’d get 20 minutes here or there and take up a wage.”
Christie, who won two Trebles at Celtic and scored 42 goals in his time at Parkhead, says he needed a fresh challenge away from Scotland.
He believes Parker’s style of play will suit him down the ground as he aims to help the club reach the Premier League in his first year.
He helped Bournemouth win 1- 0 at Cardiff yesterday to move top of the table. And Christie said: “People questioned my ambition but I don’t understand that.
“I actually see it as the polar opposite. I’ve done everything I wanted to do at Celtic in terms of achievements so my ambition is now to go and achieve something else in my career and hopefully get to play in the Premier League.
“I feel like I’ve joined a club with a massive chance of doing. If that happens, I’ll get the chance to play in the best league in the world.
“I don’t think anyone can accuse me of lacking ambition.”