Dedryck Boyata has spoken to Belgian website Dhnet about his fall out with Celtic- and expressed his 100% trust in agent Jacques Liechtenstein.
Over the last week the defender has been at the centre of controversy starting with Celtic’s decision to reject a £9m transfer bid from Fulham.
That resulted in Liechtenstein confronting Brendan Rodgers at Lennoxtown on Friday morning with Boyata unavailable for the matches against Hearts and AEK Athens.
It seems highly unlikely that the 27-year-old will play again for Celtic with just under three weeks left for a transfer to be completed.
Boyata published a video of his muscle treatment overnight and claimed in the interview that he played at Ibrox last season with a Grade 1 injury.
Dhnet reports
Dedryck Boyata Rebutts Accusations of Diplomatic Injury
Brendan Rodgers was expected on the absence of Dedryck Boyata this Tuesday night in preliminary round return of the Champions League on the ground of AEK Athens. In a press conference, Celtic’s manager was initially bitter: “It’s sadder than anything else, it would have been nice to have him with us but he’s not here” , a- he let go before questioning the involvement of the defender. “We have to trust the players who want to be here.”
Mute since the beginning of this bad drama, the Devil has been keen to give his version of the facts.
Dedryck, your agent Jacques Lichtentstein has spoken several times in recent days about your situation. What is your position ?
“Personally, I’m not going to react too much to what my agent has been able to say in the press, I have been working with him for years, I have 100% confidence in him.” In relation to his statements, he has his reasons But, I repeat, I trust him. “
You did not play this weekend, you did not make the trip to Athens on Tuesday: what do you say to those who say it is a diplomatic injury?
“What’s going on is that I’m in a special position, and when I hear that I’ve refused to play since I came back from vacation, it’s wrong. refused to play Since my return, I ran a lot on the sidelines of the group to work physically and I knew several small pips in the calf and the ischio.I went to the physio every day.This morning (Monday I was still with a physio and the others injured at the club.I do not know where these rumors come out.I did not refuse to play.I have a little problem with the ischio.
Especially since last season, several times, you played while being touched ...
“Yes, I have played several times with Grade 1 injuries.” Sometimes it was very much like the last Cup final, other times less like in the last away game against Rangers, hence the precautions I take now because I do not want to take any chances. “
When and how are you hurt?
“Last Thursday, I hurt myself by slipping in training and I held my leg directly, the physio saw it and examined me right after the session, I put ice cream 30 minutes on my leg and, the next day, I said that I had pain, the exams proved that I could not play against Heart. made as quickly as possible and I’m really behind my team-mates for tonight’s big game. “
