Celtic midfielder and captain Scott Brown has revealed that he had serious thoughts about leaving Parkhead for a big money payday after interest from the middle east and Australia.
The Hoops favourite has penned new terms which keep him committed in Glasgow for another two years, having seen his original deal expiring this coming summer, but according to the Daily Record the central enforcer had an offer of £40,000-a-week on the table from Al Wasl in the UAE.
Speaking of a potential exit, Brown revealed his time during a warm weather training camp in Dubai, where Al Wasl are based, had him tempted with a move.
He told the Daily Record: “It was tempting but I didn’t want to rush into it and say, ‘Right, I’m off’ which was why I took so long to make the decision.
“The kind of figures mentioned are different but it’s also a totally different game as well.
“I enjoyed the Dubai training camp so that put my head on a swivel! But I love the club, I love winning trophies and playing in the Champions League which is why I signed here in the first place.”
Opinion
For most fans the thought of a move to the warm weather climes of the UAE, not to mention a deal worth £40,000-a-week, would be very tempting and so they will be scratching their heads over why Brown has chosen to remain in chilly Glasgow and Celtic for what will likely be the remainder of his career. It just goes to show how much the Hoops means to the midfielder, having turned himself into a living legend at Parkhead. The opportunity to continue challenging for trophies in front of an adoring fanbase in Glasgow is seemingly enough to satisfy the Scottish star and fair play to him for remaining wholly loyal to his current club, for there will have been many players ready to wave goodbye at the first sniff of some warm weather and a healthy increase on your wages. Celtic means a lot more to Brown than that though, and the fans will be delighted to see him staying on board for the next couple of years.