Celtic have further mutiny on their hands after Moussa Dembele reacted angrily to their decision to block a transfer approach from Lyon.
Brendan Rodgers turned down a “significant offer” from Lyon and expects Demeble to remain a Celtic player when the transfer deadline closes on Friday night.
Dembele was left out of Celtic’s squad to play in the Europa League on Thursday night and posted a series of social media posts to show his frustration.
“A man, without his word, is nothing. A real man keeps his word,” he said in one post on Twitter.
“Don’t get it wrong Bhoys and Ghirls nothing to do with people who really care about the club CelticFC too much love and respect you and respect for you and the crest #CarefulWhoYoucallTheLeaderOfYours,” he added on Friday morning.
He also liked several Twitter posts which backed his stance, including one from former Celtic striker Chris Sutton who said he was “clearly calling out Brendan Rodgers.”
Dedrych Boyata and Rodgers disagreed over the Belgian’s defender’s claim that he was injured for several crucial matches after a Celtic rejected a bid from Fulham.
Following Celtic’s 4-1 win on aggregate which sees them qualify for the Europa League, Rodgers said he is determined to keep Dembele at Celtic Park and added that they would only let him go if a suitable replacement was available.
“We don’t want him to go. We understand where it is at and we understand the offer is significant but it is not good for us. You know, it has to work for both.
“For Celtic, if we don’t have someone of a certain calibre and quality to come in, then unfortunately it can’t be done because he is not a player that we want to lose so we will see how that goes over the next 24 hours,” said Rodgers who when asked whether he expects him to stay, replied: “yeah.”
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas confirmed the club have made contact with Celtic, and that Dembele is interested in a move to France.
“We are interested in Dembele, we have contacted him, he is interested, it is one of the tracks but we have others.”
A deal would have to be completed by midnight on Friday when the transfer window closes in Scotland and France.
