For the first time since going on strike in January as he tried to force a transfer to Celtic, Henry Onyekuru has decided to elaborate on his decision to do so.
Brendan Rodgers’ side were very interested in signing the 19-year-old forward from KAS Eupen and bringing him to Celtic Park, and even reportedly made a €1.5m bid for him.
However, the Belgian side were demanding around €3-4m for his services, a fee Celtic seemed reluctant to shell out, and the transfer collapsed.
Speaking to So Foot about the Celtic interest and his tantrum, Onyekuru said: “Everyone is trying to find out where I went in January. Yes, I wanted to be transferred, but I don’t want to go over it. It’s my story. They quickly let me know the manager was angry, and that he said if I returned, I wouldn’t make the squad.
“He quickly put me back and I quickly started scoring again. Where’s the problem? I understand his anger, he had the right to feel abandoned, but I straight away proved my head was at Eupen and that I was going to do everything to help the team stay up. I don’t regret anything: I assume everything.”
Since then, Celtic’s dream of bringing in the youngster has been all but shattered, with Eupen now asking for around €7m + bonuses for his services, and clubs like Arsenal and West Ham battling it out with all their money.
So close, yet so far.
