The Instagram farewell post is almost an essential part of any football transfer. Maik Nawrocki has obliged.
On Friday, after three years in and around Celtic the Polish defender joined Lens in a £2.5m transfer deal. Quite a leap after playing just 17 matches last season in Bundesliga 2 for Hannover 96.
In among the predictable comments thanking almost everyone one area stood out.
Nawrocki was one of the notorious signings from the summer of 2023. Brought in by Mark Lawwell to sabotage the return of Brendan Rodgers.
NAWROCKI AND THE SUMMER 2023 CELTIC SIGNINGS
As a reminder they were Odin Thiago-Holm, Marco Tilio, Kwon Hyeok-kyu Yang Hyun Jun, Nawrocki, Gus Lagerbielke and Luis Palma.
Yang remains in the first team. Thiago-Holm is out on loan, again with the rest all gone, mostly forgotten.
??/ ???? ???????? ??? ?????????
– “There were moments & decisions that I would have preferred to be handles differently both on & off the pitch.”
– “Nevertheless I always gave everything I had.”
Good luck Maik ?? pic.twitter.com/Ltl3TEJhlp
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) July 20, 2026
Nawrocki was brought in just as Carl Starfelt was sold to Celta Vigo. For insurance Celtic signed Lagerbielke during the same window.
Rodgers had his reservations. In August Cameron Carter-Vickers, Stephen Welsh and Nawrocki got medium term injuries.
Liam Scales came in from the cold. Nat Phillips was signed on loan but was quickly found wanting. Returning to Liverpool in January.
There are multiple issues that Nawrocki could be hinting at.
Clearly Rodgers didn’t think much of the summer 2023 players that he was presented with. Quickly he made it clear that his job was to work with the players signed by the club.
Lagerbielke is the only one of those signings that has gone on to be a success elsewhere.
No Celtic fan was expecting Nawrocki to join a Champions League club. Lens ran Paris St Germain close for last season’s title.
The season ahead should unravel the mystery of Nawrocki although Celtic fans are likely to be in for a long wait before discovering the true meaning of his farewell message.
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Good luck to him and all the others who will follow him out the door which will probably include our captain. No-one can blame them as the atmosphere inside the club must be toxic and they’ll be aware of the feelings amongst the supporters which is borderline nuclear against the board. If I was them I would be running for the hills or the desert. To be honest, I don’t think some of them were given a decent chance because they were forced upon a manager who’s aspirations were not aligned with the biscuit tin board. We had a manager who could have taken us further in Europe if he’d been given who he asked for. Instead were regressing backwards at an alarming rate. I mean know disrespect to MO but is this the best we can do. A retiree who by some miracle won the double and has now returned as DD nodding dog and is in serious jeapordy of losing his legacy. Sad but true but money talks unfortunately, for us it’s not in the shape of players on the pitch. I believe we would struggle to find a decent manager outwith DD lackeys. Were a laughing stock in Europe, agents don’t want to deal with our amateur approach. It’s embarrassing. I am actually surprised that Nicholson isn’t in the dugout yet. It would save money after all and they know best. Stranger things have happened.
He gave his all which was still FU**IN SH#TE…
Just another Sonny Lawwell signing !