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Mark Walker

Emilio Izaguirre eyes Celtic exit as he stalls on new deal at Parkhead

Emilio Izaguirre wants to leave Celtic for the MLS as he looks to end his playing career closer to his home in Honduras.

The full back revealed Celtic have offered him a new one-year deal but his preferred option was a move to America.

Izaguirre won his 11th winners medal with the Hoops after joining from Motagua nine years ago.

He returned to Celtic in August after an ill-fated spell in Saudi Arabia with Al-Fayha and the 32-year-old admits he has a major decision to make this summer.

Izaguirre said: "Celtic have offered me another one-year deal on my contract.

"I don't know what I am going to do yet. I am discussing it with my family.

" Neil Lennon has spoken to me and he wants me to remain at Celtic. But I want to be closer to Honduras when I play with the national team.

"I hope something comes up in the MLS for me. That's the wish of me and my wife.

Johnston and Izaguirre celebrate (SNS)

"So my future is difficult to predict. My agent is dealing with it at the moment and when I return to Honduras in the summer, I will decide.

"It's difficult because my children have grown up here in Scotland. My son doesn't need a translator - he speaks to us in a Scottish accent!

"Only God knows whether I will remain in Scotland."

And Izaguirre - who is now the most decorated Honduran player to play abroad - insists the winners medals are all the sweeter because of the start he made to his Hoops career.

Izaguirre said: "The most special one was my first trophy at Celtic.

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"In my first season we lost a League Cup Final to Rangers and lost the league on the last day of the season after being in front all year.

"So to win the first title was very special and now I have seven league titles. I once won Player of the Year and that was very special to me because of the affection I received from the fans.

"This season I was delighted that Neil Lennon came back. He was with me for four years and was like a father figure to me.

"Thank God he returned and he is still counting on me."

(SNS Group)

And the full back, in an interview with a Honduran publication Diez, admitted he had enjoyed a terrific career in Glasgow.

He said: "I've played in the Champions League and got to the Last 16, I've played in two World Cups so I have had a fulfilling career.

"I've played against Lionel Messi in the Champions League and Cristiano Ronaldo in a friendly.

"But I am very proud to be Honduran. I wouldn't change that for anything."

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