Matt O’Riley recently addressed the situation regarding Atletico Madrid’s failed bid to sign him from Celtic, emphasizing that he harbors no hard feelings about the outcome. Despite the Spanish giants offering an £18 million loan deal with an obligation to buy, Celtic held out for £25 million as they valued the midfielder higher. O’Riley, who has been in impressive form this season with 11 goals to his name, expressed his appreciation for Atletico’s interest while mentioning that he was not particularly close to leaving due to the financial disparity.

While some have speculated that the transfer saga may have affected O’Riley’s performance, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton debunked these suggestions in a recent column. O’Riley, currently away on international duty with Denmark, spoke out for the first time in an interview with Danish magazine Tipsbladet, acknowledging the allure of interest from a prestigious club like Atletico Madrid.

Regarding his potential future, O’Riley left the door open for a summer move, stating, “We have to see what happens.” Despite initially being left out of Denmark’s squad, he was later called up to replace an injured player for their friendly matches against Switzerland and the Faroe Islands.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers also commented on the situation, highlighting the player’s value to the club and expressing confidence in O’Riley’s development. He affirmed Celtic’s stance of not selling their top players at the moment and reassured O’Riley of his importance to the team. The dialogues between manager and player reflect a transparent approach to addressing transfer speculation and maintaining focus on performance and development within the club.

I prefer to maintain transparency with the players so they can truly grasp the emotions involved. This dynamic between us has been established since day one—it’s a fundamental aspect of coaching and management, encapsulating the bond between the coach and the player.