Celtic’s stance on Matt O’Riley’s transfer during the January window was clear: the club were not looking to sell the star, especially halfway through a season when hunting down the league title.
However, the financial aspects of the deal have since been revealed.
Celrtic valued their midfielder at £25 million, a price tag that deterred La Liga giants Atletico Madrid. Despite Atletico’s keen interest, their offer—a loan deal with an obligation to buy for £18 million—was swiftly rejected by the Scottish Premiership side. [Tipsbladet]
The approach was promptly dismissed by Celtic, who communicated their higher valuation of the player. This financial discrepancy led Atletico Madrid to withdraw from the talks, leaving O’Riley at Celtic Park.
O’Riley arrived at Celtic for just £1.5 million two years ago, and signed a new and improved deal at the club just this season.
There will likely be more interest in the player when the summer window opens, and Celtic’s asking price will be tested again.
