Charlotte FC’s Zoran Krneta has stepped forward to clear the air regarding the departure of Liel Abada from Celtic, amid swirling rumors and accusations.
He made it clear that the narrative blaming Celtic supporters for Abada’s exit is far from accurate.
Abada, at 22, recently made the switch to the MLS, fetching around £10million, despite having committed to a new four-year contract with the Scottish Premiership leaders just last September.
His absence from matchday squads by Brendan Rodgers was attributed to personal reasons, amidst the backdrop of conflict in the Middle East.
The situation was further complicated as many Celtic fans displayed their solidarity for Palestine, putting Abada, an Israeli international, in a tough spot both domestically and back home. Reports from Israel went as far as to accuse Celtic fans of verbal assaults on Abada in public spaces. Something which remains utter fantasy.
Rodgers was quick to dispel such speculations after discussing the matter with Abada. Echoing this sentiment, Krneta offered a different perspective in his interview with Walla as cited by Football Scotland He said: “I really think Celtic fans liked him. It is clear to everyone that the situation was difficult for him with the criticism that came his way. He was not ready to deal with it and things got a little out of control.”
Krneta also shed light on the acquisition process, noting Charlotte FC’s long-standing interest in Abada, which was initially rebuffed by Celtic a year prior.
He said: “We’ve known Liel for a long time, we approached Celtic about him already a year ago and they flatly refused.
“But in the current situation, we couldn’t give up. It was a no brainer. To be honest, if it weren’t for these circumstances, I don’t think we would have been able to get him so easily,”
The narrative that Celtic fans were instrumental in driving Abada away is a misguided theory for those who want to believe it. Celtic supporters were right behind Liel and he was very much a part of the Celtic family.
