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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Josh McCafferty

Kelechi Iheanacho debacle clarified after initial Celtic contract offer accepted

Kelechi Iheanacho had initially agreed to re-join Celtic. (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

Celtic's move for Kelechi Iheanacho dramatically broke down after a wage dispute.

Iheanacho's agent initially accepted Celtic's contract offer before going AWOL, and the striker joined Turkish club Bursaspor.

When announcing Iheanacho's arrival last September, Celtic confirmed they had the option to extend his initial one-year deal by a further 12 months.

Kelechi Iheanacho scored nine goals for Celtic last season. (Image: Steve Welsh/PA)

But they sought to renegotiate this summer, and we understand a deal worth £12,000 per week – rising to £17,000 per week with add-ons – was initially agreed for Iheanacho to remain at Parkhead before an official contract was signed.

His agent then stopped responding to phone calls or emails, before returning to the table earlier this week demanding a contract worth £47,000 per week.

Less than 48 hours later, Iheanacho had signed for Bursaspor in Turkey's second division on a three-year deal worth £47,000 per week.


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Elsewhere, left-back Marcelo Saracchi recently confirmed via Instagram that he won't be re-signing for Celtic this summer.

"Dear Celtic fans, I'm writing this to say goodbye. We had an intense, beautiful year together where we achieved so many of our goals," Saracchi wrote on social media.

"My agent and I did absolutely everything within our power to make a return to Glasgow happen.

"I'm truly gutted that I won't be able to continue at the club at this stage of my career. However, I know our paths will cross again in the future.

"I wish you all nothing but the best for what's ahead. Thank you for everything."

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