Robbie Keane has opened the door to staying on at Celtic next season after admitting that he isn’t motivated by money.
After the shock of completing the most rumoured, and rubbished, transfer in football earlier this year the possibility of Keane having his loan extended by another twelve months shouldn’t be completely dismissed.
Having played for Liverpool, Spurs and Inter Milan Keane has achieved most of his goals in the game but clearly has a deep and genuine feeling for Celtic.
A further loan to Celtic would clearly require major changes at Parkhead but Keane has obviously enjoyed playing for the club despite arriving at the least successful period in the last decade.
Speaking after collecting the Supporters Player of the Year Award he told Channel 67: “People keep asking me if I’m glad that I came here and the answer is of course I am. I’m a Celtic fan.
“I’m not a footballer who’s using Celtic to go to another club because I didn’t have to come here, it’s as simple as that.
“I could have played in the Premiership, I could have stayed at Tottenham who are a top four team.
“Celtic are one of the biggest clubs in the world to me and a club that I’ve always wanted to play for.
“I came here for a reason. It wasn’t for money or anything stupid like that that people keep going on about.
“I want to play for this club and regardless of whether we’re likely to win things or not it doesn’t matter- I’ve got that jersey on and I’m doing my best for the club.”
Keane added: “I only came in at the start of February and to get an award such as this means a lot to me.
“When I first came here I was in a lose-lose situation to be honest, I was a little bit worried because the expectations on me were huge.
“If I didn’t score goals people would say that I should be scoring and if I did score they’d say that ‘well he should be scoring goals with the amount of money that’s been getting’.
“That’s been highlighted over the last three months, I don’t really like it but that’s football. I was in a lose-lose situation but I think that I’ve done enough to turn the supporters around. I think that I’ve done a good job.”
Rangers 2-0 win away at Hibs today prevented Celtic from being crowned u-19 champions.
Celtic are nine points ahead of Rangers who have three away games to play, a draw at home to Aberdeen on Saturday will give Celtic the title.
Saturday’s match kicks-off at 1pm at Lennoxtown with Celtic facing Rangers next Wednesday at Hampden in the final of the SFA Youth Cup, kick-off 7.30pm