Matt O’Riley has revealed that his 85-year-old Danish granny is tracking the transfer rumours on Twitter!
Two years ago the midfielder was finding his feet in League One, getting the regular game time that he left Fulham for.
It was a gamble for O’Riley to quit the west London side where he would have been reasonably well played and probably get out on loan.
Although quietly spoken and modest the Danish u-21 internationalist knows that things can pick up quickly, this week he is on international duty and halfway through his second Champions League campaign.
Celtic got O’Riley onto an improved contract earlier this season but if his development continues it is unlikely that he will still be playing in Scotland when his new deal expires in 2027.
Danish publisher Tipsbladet interviewed the Celtic midfielder:
Week after week there are new rumours about Matt O’Riley, and if the Danish international, who plays for the Scottish big club Celtic, wants to be updated on the rumour stream, you would think that the call would go to his agent.Â
For Matt O’Riley, however, it will make much more sense to give his grandmother Lis a call.
– I try not to think about it too much, but my 85-year-old grandmother likes reading about it very much and she watches every game I play for Celtic. She has been to the stadium, but she watches most matches on TV because she lives in Horsens. She’s quick enough – she’s on Twitter every single day and just scroll, scroll, scroll. That’s why she’s still alive, I think, says O’Riley, as he sits on the sofa at the Hotel Marienlyst in Helsingør, where the Danish national team is currently gathered.
The midfielder’s grandmother will of course also be excitedly watching this week, when her grandson can make his debut in the Danish national team. Matt O’Riley hopes he can make that wish come true.
– She doesn’t have much time left, so it will be great if I make my debut while she is alive. I hope I get to play while she can still see it, says the Celtic player and adds that grandma is currently suffering from some illness in her body and will therefore not be in the Park on Friday.Â
As for the many transfer rumours, which Grandma and many others are digging into, the Celtic player takes them in stride.
I have played in the Champions League against many good teams and I think I am ready (to take the next step, ed.), but I am already playing for a good team. It is difficult to say what will happen, says O’Riley.
With Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Liel Abada all currently injured 22-year-old O’Riley is one of the most experienced players currently available to Brendan Rodgers.