CELTIC target Mohammad Abu Fani has broken his silence about his disappointment of not clinching a transfer to Parkhead.
But he insists the collapse of the move was a blessing in disguise after Maccabi Haifa made Champions League history.
The 24-year-old midfielder was strongly linked with a move to the Scottish champions in the summer, but his Israeli club refused to lower their asking price and Ange Postecoglou turned his attention elsewhere.
But Fani helped Maccabi Haifa to the group stages of the Champions League where they made history this week by becoming the first Israeli side to win against Italian opposition when they beat Juventus 2-0.
And although he admitted he was gutted his move to Celtic didn't happen, he insists he's now happy at the Israeli champions.
Fani said: "It wasn't easy at all for me during the summer. I expected to go to a club in Europe and in the end, I didn't make it and I stayed in Haifa.
"But that has been one of the best things that happened to me.
"I was in a kind of uncertainty because of the possible transfer and it affected me as a player. That episode closed at the same time as the transfer window.
"I've been at Maccabi Haifa all my life. For me, I regard myself now as part of the club and a supporter.
"Now I am only focussed on making the club better and improving myself as a player too. I'm not thinking about any transfer."
