Callum McGregor has opened up about his future at Celtic and made it clear that his long term stay at the club will depend on whether their ambitions continue to match his own.
The Celtic captain has been the subject of increasing speculation lately particularly with reported interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia where former manager Brendan Rodgers is now working. Rather than avoid the topic McGregor addressed it head on and revealed that he has already held discussions with the club’s board about where things stand.
He made it clear that his preference is to remain at Celtic but only if the club continues to push forward and compete at a high level. For McGregor it is not just about staying loyal it is about being part of a team that consistently challenges for trophies and plays on the biggest stages.
Throughout his time at the club Celtic have regularly featured in top European competitions like the Champions League and Europa League. McGregor believes that maintaining that level is essential and anything less would not align with his personal standards.
The midfielder did not hide his competitive nature either. He admitted that he has no interest in captaining a side that is not winning silverware stressing that he has been completely honest with those inside the club about his expectations. If Celtic are not striving to be at their very best then he would have to reconsider his future.
Looking back on the current season McGregor acknowledged that things have not gone as planned. Missing out on Champions League qualification especially after the defeat to Kairat Almaty was a major disappointment. Still he believes the team is not far away from returning to that level as long as improvements are made in key areas including recruitment.
He ultimately left the door open but made his position clear. He wants to stay and find a solution with the club but if the ambition is not there or the club decides to move in a different direction then a departure could happen.
McGregor provides fitness update
McGregor also gave an update on his fitness after questions were raised about his recent performances. He explained that he had been dealing with a minor issue over the past few games which limited his training but he still managed to play when needed.
Now he says he is feeling much better and believes he has fully turned a corner physically. With only a handful of matches left in the season he is confident he can finish strongly and help the team push forward.
Having a fully fit McGregor available will be a big boost for Celtic as they try to end what has been a difficult campaign on a positive note. His determination to lead and deliver success is still very much evident.
