Dedryck Boyata has revealed that he had three options to quit Celtic in January.
The defender has been one of Brendan Rodgers most important players since the turn of the year starting all five matches since the hoops returned from Dubai.
Before that break Boyata had made one solitary appearance as he watched Rodgers split defensive duties between Erik Sviatchenko, Jozo Simunovic, Mikael Lustig and Kolo Toure.
At the age of 26 the former Manchester City defender wants to be playing games and asked his agent to see what was available for a January move.
“Given that I wasn’t playing at Celtic, I told my agent to look at what was possible,” the defender revealed to The Sun.
“But I also asked him not to give me unnecessary headaches and only talk to me about concrete offers.
“It is true, he mentioned the interest of Anderlecht, Werder Bremen and Hull, but it was never serious enough to alert Celtic. Especially, since I am now back in the team.
“I have two and a half years left of my contract here. I have played nearly 50 games with Celtic.
“I don’t have any definite plans for the future, but I am secure at Celtic. It would have been nice to go back home to Belgium, but their interest was never serious enough.
“I still have my dreams in football. The one that currently occupies me is Celtic. Possibly, one day I may be able to prove myself in the Premier League. Today, I have never felt so comfortable as I do at Celtic.”
Boyata’s emergence has been a genuine case of ‘just like a new signing’.
Like almost everyone bar Leigh Griffiths and Kieran Tierney he struggled to make any impression last season as Ronny Deila’s side looked increasingly vulnerable.
While James Forrest, Tom Rogic and Stuart Armstrong quickly showed the difference that a new manager can make Boyata had to be much more patient.
Sviatchenko’s Scottish Cup suspension and the plastic pitch of Airdrie provided him with a chance to shine against Albion Rovers with Rodgers full of praise for the way that the defender has responded to his opportunity.