Staying put was best move for Dembele
MOUSSA DEMBELE has got the potential to become a world- class player.
But he isn’t there yet. That’s why I’m delighted he’s still at Celtic. Quite frankly, the 20-year-old is not ready for Chelsea, who were linked with a £30-million swoop in the January transfer window. He is still raw, still developing. And I suspect he knows that himself, otherwise he would have been agitating for a move as soon as Chelsea’s interest became apparent.
That’s what players – and their agents – do these days. Dembele did nothing of the sort. Instead, he kept quiet and got on with his work.
Then, on deadline day itself, he endeared himself to Celtic fans by posting a cheeky message on Twitter to tell them he was going nowhere.
Celtic star has put his longterm prospects above short-term financial gain
I had a good laugh when I saw that. Fair play to the kid.
After all the nonsense Dimitri Payet put West Ham through to secure his £25-million move to Marseille, Dembele’s conduct was a breath of fresh air.
It’s as simple as this – the Celtic star has put his long- term prospects above short- term financial gain. In the end, I think he will reap the benefits. But for now, he gets to reap the benefits of Brendan Rodgers’ first-class coaching.
That, rather than a big- money move to Chelsea at 20 years old, is what will help him reach the next level as a player.
At Celtic he is chasing the Premiership title, he is expected to win every week, and he is expected to score more often than not.
In return he can expect Champions League football.
At Chelsea, with the best will in the world, he would have been given a seat on the bench
at best, and more likely a place in their Under-23 squad.
At this stage of his career, that’s not what he needs – not if he harbours serious ambitions.
Serious ambition is the fuel that keeps Celtic moving forward.
At Parkhead, Moussa is in the right place to ensure his continued development.
And the fact that Celtic were able to fend off two bids from Chelsea for Craig Gordon at the same time as the Stamford Bridge club were eyeing Dembele speaks volumes.
In less than a year, Brendan Rodgers has completely transformed the atmosphere at Celtic.
Under Ronny Deila, it was a club top players would have been delighted to escape.
Now it’s somewhere they want to stay – the way it should be.
The Bhoys are skooshing the Premiership, they have won the League Cup and they are huge favourites for the Scottish Cup.
Throw in a much- improved Champions League performance, and the future looks very bright indeed.
That’s why Dembele and Gordon weren’t desperately trying to get out when one of the game’s giants came sniffing around.
That’s why the fans have come back in their thousands.
That’s why Celtic are being taken seriously again.
For all of that, Brendan Rodgers deserves enormous credit.