Former Celtic forward Colin Kazim-Richards has revealed the chance to play in Brazil was the reason he left the SPL champions in the summer. Kazim-Richards signed for Brazilian side Coritiba, just four months into this two and a half year contract with Celtic.
Speaking to FourFourTwo (subscribe here), the Turkey international said when Celtic came in for him last February he couldn’t turn down the move. However, despite his short stay in Scotland the player revealed he didn’t leave this summer because of new manager Brendan Rodgers.
Kazim-Richards said the reason was he had a desire to play in Brazil, but didn’t want to come across as being disrespectful to Celtic for leaving.
“Then Celtic came up, and you can’t really turn them down. I’ve seen some people suggest that Brendan Rodgers said he didn’t’ want me, but it wasn’t like that. My heart was set on coming here (Brazil), and that’s no disrespect to Celtic at all because I support them.”
Kazim-Richards signed for Celtic in the last winter transfer from Feyenoord after being frozen out with the Dutch side due to disciplinary reasons. However, the much travelled 30-year-old made just thirteen appearances for Celtic in his short time at the club before heading to Coritiba on an eighteen moth deal in the last window.
